If there’s a diving title on the line, Seymour sophomore Devin Ramsey will more than likely own it by the competition’s end.
The accolades have piled on for Ramsey in recent weeks, as he has claimed his first Hoosier Hills Conference, sectional and regional crowns.
On Saturday, for the first time in his career, Ramsey aims to prove himself among the elite — from every region of the state at the Indiana University Natatorium at IUPUI.
At the Floyd Central Sectional on Feb. 18 Ramsey set pool, sectional and personal records by scoring an impressive 465.85 points.
At sectional, Ramsey topped the runner-up by more than 100 points.
On Tuesday, he followed up by winning the Bloomington North Regional with a score of 432.60.
“The thing we found amazing was that on his front triple, he came down on the edge of the board and somehow still did three somersaults,” Owls coach Dave Boggs said of the regional. “No one does that. Two out of 100 couldn’t do that. It was amazing. I think having another big meet under his belt will be good for him.”
Ramsey focused on just advancing but came out with much more.
“I went in there going through each dive,” Ramsey said. “I honestly didn’t think about getting first. I was thinking top three.”
Boggs said opposing teams are now taking notice of Ramsey, who flew under the radar his freshman year despite making it to regional.
Going into Saturday’s prelims, Ramsey’s 432.60 is the sixth-highest score of 32 divers.
“What helped me was the forward triple and inward double somersault,” Ramsey said. “Those have really high (degree of difficulty), 2.8 and 2.9. Some of the easy dives helped, too.
“I’m working harder on my entries. I’ve been told they judge a lot on entries at state.”
Fishers’ Cole VanDevender stands head and shoulders above the competition going into state, coming in with a 533 — the only diver above 500.
Boggs said Ramsey could very well finish in the top eight by the end of the meet should he advance to the finals.
The highest a Seymour diver has ever finished at state was third — in 1990 by Kevin Whistler.
All diving will take place Saturday with the top 20 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims, which begin at 9 a.m., to the semis after five dives each.
After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.
The finals will pair up with the swimming finals, which begin at 1 p.m.
“I’m looking forward to the audience,” Ramsey said. “I want to get to the finals and just have fun. I don’t really know a lot of them. I like that. I get to see some new divers.”