How SLO High diver overcame serious knee injury to become a CIF champion
A San Luis Obispo High School senior who transitioned from gymnastics to diving at the age of 15 can be called champion after persevering through COVID-19 and a severe knee injury.
Malia Maire had her first full season in 2022 on the springboard this year after pandemic disruptions and injuries kept her out of action most of the past two years.
Maire went undefeated in regular season and won the CIF-Central Section Division 1 diving championship on Saturday, May 7, in Clovis, earning the top score out of 53 divers.
Maire, who has earned a diving scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, said the win came as a shock.
“I was basically just having a good time during my dives,” Maire said. “I told my family not to tell me where I was in the standings. I knew that that would just be like a distraction. ...Then (after finishing the event) this guy came up to me and said ‘Congratulations.’ I got excited because the Top 4 go to state and I was hoping I made it. Then he said, ‘You won.’ I was super shocked.”
She added: “Because this was my first full season, I was completely open-minded and did not have any high expectations other than qualifying for CIF. I was very proud of how I did this season considering I broke the school record, a league record, and was CIF champion.”
In her title bid, Maire scored 434.20 (a SLO High school record) to move on to state CIF state competition, also to be held at Clovis High this week.
She said that the transition from the gymnastics mat to the pool was natural.
“I quickly fell in love with the sport since I love flipping and twisting, but the part that I like the best is that there was no more constant paranoia of the landing since it is just into water and not hard land (like in gymnastics),” Maire said.
Her coach, Coral Minton, a former Cuesta College dive coach, said that Maire is a successful diver because of her determination.
“Malia has a high level of grit,” Minton said. “I’ve coached for many, many years, and I would say she she is one of the most determined, grit-oriented people I’ve dealt with, especially considering some of the things that she’s dealt with physically.”
Maire went through a two-part knee surgery — a result of some hard gymnastics landings — that kept her out during her entire junior year.
“It definitely hurt watching everyone else improve and I just was like sitting there with crutches and couldn’t do anything,” Maire said of her 11th-grade season.
Preparing for college
Minton said that Maire is “very bright,” which will serve her well at Eastern Michigan, where she plans to study nutrition and dietetics.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with several outstanding people over the years, and she is one of the shining stars,” Minton said. “She just has a personality and intelligence.”
Mostly diving from a 1-meter springboard, the designated height for high school, Maire also has practiced at the 3-meter height at Cuesta College to prepare for her NCAA career.
At the college level, athletes dive from a 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and may compete in events featuring the 5-meter, 7-meter and 10-meter platform.
“I also enjoy diving from the 5- and 7-meter platform and have yet to dive from the 10-meter platform,” Maire said.
At the high school level, her favorite dive is “an inward 1-1/2 tuck somersault. This is when you are facing towards the back of the board and jump backwards and flip forwards. I like this because its easy to spot the entry.”
Minton said good divers have natural ability to understand their body’s positioning in the air.
“Generally that happens with gymnasts, wrestlers, skateboarders and surfers,” Minton said. “But it also takes somebody who is very disciplined and has a good work ethic, a lot of grit, and ability to continue even when things are tough.”
To settle her nerves, Maire listens to music, but generally she said she doesn’t tend to get too tense.
“It’s easy to calm nerves during competitions because I am having a good time doing what I love with my teammates and competitors,” she said. “Everyone is super supportive of each other regardless of what school they go to, which creates a fun and positive environment.”
At the state meet, she hopes to place in the Top 16 (she’s seeded No. 13 of 29 divers) and her goal in college is to make NCAAs.
A SLO High boy’s diver, Justin Dolezal, also will compete at the state competition after finishing fourth in a tight competition at the CIF-Central Section championships, Minton said.
“That one was really close, and some of the same divers will be having a rematch at the state championship,” Minton said.
Another local team that earned title honors was Templeton girls’ swim, which won the Division 2 CIF-Central Section crown on May 7.
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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