Lawrence Middle School Diver Taking Home Three National Championships

Adam LeCompte was determined this year.

After two trips to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Diving Championships, LeCompte wasn’t about to walk out of San Antonio without any titles.

Instead, he will walk out with three.

On Thursday, LeCompte won his third title in as many days at the Northside Swim Center in San Antonio, Texas when he captured the 5-meter platform, or “tower,” dive by 60 points over his next closest competitor in the 13-and-under category.

The 12-year-old Lawrence Township Middle School student previously won the 1-meter springboard by 40 points and the 3-meter springboard by 12 points.

“He’s been working really hard and he hit every single dive he wanted to peak in this summer,” LeCompte’s father, Kirk LeCompte, said.

Each diver performs eight dives in the springboard events and seven in the platform. They each perform a forward, backward, reverse, inward and twisting dive, and dives are judged based on their degree of difficulty.

Adam LeCompte scored a 6.5 or 7 out of 10 on each of his dives.

In his previous trips to the AAU National Diving Championships, Adam LeCompte has recorded a top-3 finish.

“I feel like my hard work has paid off,” Adam LeCompte said. “I’ve been practicing two-and-a-half hours every day (Monday-Friday).”

LeCompte is a member of the Blue Dolphin Divers team, which practices at The College of New Jersey with coaches Candace Gottlieb and Joe Costello.

“I was diving at a public pool and people would tell my dad what a good diver I was,” Adam LeCompte said. “I was only five, but they said I was good, so I went out for the team.”

LeCompte was one of 21 Blue Dolphins who qualified for the championships. Lawrence Intermediate School student Ola Kwasniewski also qualified for the first time, in the 11-and-under category. According to Kirk LeCompte, she finished seventh on the 1-meter and 10th on the 3-meter. Lawrence resident Victoria Shay competes this weekend.

The AAU National Diving Championships are for ages 8-18, and are held July 23-29. There are five age categories, and about 326 athletes from all over the country. It’s one of the reasons Adam LeCompte enjoys the sport so much.

“I like the adrenaline rush when I jump off the higher boards and meeting people from all over,” Adam LeCompte said.

He said he knew from his first dive when he was five years old that he loved the sport.

Adam LeCompte’s events are finished for this year, but he will continue to cheer on his teammates still competing. He also plans to venture out to see some of the landmarks in Texas, including the Alamo.

He’s also looking ahead to his future in diving, which he said includes high school competition.

“I’m looking forward to coming back here again next year and winning some more,” Adam LeCompte said.

Sometimes, you just have to get that first one, or three, out of the way.