Members of the Maui Prep swimming and diving team gather before the Maui Interscholastic League finals. Photo courtesy Wendy Laurel Sheveland

From the 1-meter springboard, Maui Prep’s divers hit the water at speeds of up to 25 mph this season.

Over the years competing with Na Pueo, the team’s seniors say they have learned to face their fear, trust in their preparation and step forward even when the moment feels intimidating. For them, the difficult moments — whether on the diving board or in life — can be opportunities for growth if they want it.

In the end, the divers said it comes down to mindset and being willing to take a chance.

With the season wrapped up, the 2026 senior class is reflecting on their high school careers and what it was like competing for Na Pueo.

While diving can look like a graceful dance from the top of the board down to the water, the sport is accompanied by underlying dangers like other high-contact sports.

Diving starts with a simple skillset that soon turns into a complex series of skills that can be physically and physiologically demanding on the athletes. With Maui Prep being a smaller school, there are unique challenges and advantages that come with diving for Na Pueo.

“One of the largest challenges was that there are no springboard diving facilities on the west side of Maui,” coach Anthony Venticinque said. “The only springboard diving facilities are at Coach Sakamoto Pool, Kihei Aquatic Center and Kamehameha Schools Maui. Divers must calm themselves and rehearse each portion of the dive before executing it. Getting hyped up or trying extra often leads to disaster.”

Maui Prep senior Isaac Goodreau said he found a new level of confidence while simultaneously building close relationships with his peers due to the intensity of the sport.

“What goes into my mind in the few seconds before stepping onto the board for a dive is that I have never been so cold in my life — a moment where fear almost stopped me but did not because I pushed through for my teammates to not only build confidence for myself but theirs too,” said Goodreau. “It has been a great opportunity to get out there with my boys and just give it our all with no fear.”

From the approach to the takeoff to entering the water, visualization can help divers with their mental preparation.

“I think some people may not realize how hard diving can be not only physically but mentally,” said Noa Sheveland. “In the moments before I step on the diving board, I just focus my mind on visualizing the trick and let muscle memory take over. Many times when learning new dives fear has been a limiter, but I just remind myself that I will be glad that I did it at the end of the day. Diving has changed the way I can handle scary tasks outside of the sport. I can do anything as long as I calm my mind first.”

Jack Leone counts diving as one of the most fear-inducing sports out there. Ultimately, he said you have to just go for it and it will be worth the initial nerves. That’s a skill that Leone said he will take with him into other aspects of life.

“We definitely represented well for our small numbers compared to larger schools,” Leone said. “It’s probably the scariest sport — not the hardest — but the fear factor is the hard part. You just have to send it. Now, it has made me a better cliff jumper too.”

With the season wrapped up, the Pueo seniors say the lessons from the diving board will extend far beyond the pool.