For years, Northampton varsity swimming has forfeited several points per meet due to the lack of a diving squad to compete in the varsity swimming and diving competitions.

Those days are far behind them now, thanks to the establishment of a new diving team and a renewed excitement about the future of diving in Northampton.

The man behind this growing sport in the Northampton Area School District is Todd Lerch.

Lerch joins the list of former Northampton student athletes who have returned to their alma matter to help today’s youth learn and enjoy the sports they love. Lerch competed as a diver for Northampton from 8th grade through senior year. At the height of his diving experience, the Northampton team consisted of 3-4 divers, but there were also years when Lerch was the sole diver on the team.

Without a coach to lead the team, Northampton diving was nonexistent for years, so when new swimming head coach Cullen Mentzell (a friend and former Northampton swimming teammate) approached Lerch with the prospect of coaching a newly formed diving team – Lerch jumped at the opportunity.

Lerch smiled as he retold the first discussion about the newly formed team.

“Mentzell and I were at an event and he asked me ‘what would you think about coaching diving’ and I immediately said ‘Yeah,’” Lerch said.

Perhaps one the greatest benefits of the new team, from Lerch’s point of view, is the opportunity to help the team learn.

“I’m happy I can help and be there for the kids,” explains Lerch. “I always had someone to help me and be there for me with diving and I’m glad I can do that for someone else.”

Northampton’s diving squad has grown to four athletes this year including Jadyn Fehnel, Gillian Rogerson, Benjamin Christy and Isaac Walton.

This year’s divers possess varying levels of experience.

“Some have the mechanics from gymnastics or cheering and others are completely new to the sport,” explained Lerch. “But whatever their skill level I want to push them and make sure they are learning.”

Divers select their own dives for competition with guidance from Lerch.

According to Lerch, “I let them try what they want but I’m not going to let them do something that makes them too uncomfortable. In the end, a kid is only going to do what they’re going to do.”

The team has responded well to Lerch’s approach of encouragement and empowerment and the range of dives attempted by the team members continues to grow.

Looking forward, the team is anxious to continue competing and getting better. Two of the three teams on Northampton’s schedule this season that do not have diving as part of the swim competition have already occurred giving the team many opportunities to contribute for the rest of the season.

For Lerch, his vision goes well beyond this season.

“I want the team to keep growing and keep getting better,” he said. “Ultimately, it would be great to build the diving program back to where it was before.”

With interest increasing, an eager team of divers and a new coach in the lead – Lerch’s goal seem well within reach for the Northampton swimming and diving team.