Diving team captain Jessica Larson '06 broke an 18-year school record in the 3-meter dive at Yale last weekend. Larson tallied 308.69 points, crushing second place by a 54-point margin. Although the Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Bears, 160-140, Larson claimed the top spot in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives, remaining undefeated in dual competition.
Herald: Did you expect for you to break the school record going into the meet?
Larson: Against Harvard, which was our first dual meet, I missed the record by, I think, a point and a half. My coach hadn't wanted to scare me so he didn't tell me my score throughout that meet. On my last dive, I didn't put any oomph into it, and so afterwards I was afraid I had missed my chance. Throughout the season, I didn't know if I'd get another opportunity. Diving is a weird sport, it's judged on how they perceive you, it's not timed like in swim where there's a clear cut winner. It can really depend on how the judges are scoring on the given day.
What did you change at Yale?
At Yale I just had a strong meet. I was nervous for it, but I guess it helped me. It was my last chance because at championships they tend to score very low, sometimes up to a point and a half lower. So breaking (the record) on my last try senior year was very special.
Do you have rituals to get you pumped up for meets?
I actually try to not get excited, because then I tend to get too shaky, which isn't good for diving. It's more of a process of getting calm, taking a step back and not worrying about the actual competition. I just remember to take the day one dive at a time.
Diving sounds like such a random sport to most people. Did you play anything else growing up that led you to it?
I did gymnastics and then I was also a swimmer. I was balancing on the board one day when I was eight and the coach told me I should try for the diving team. It really took off during eighth grade and freshman year of high school. Then I had to choose between soccer, which I'd done for 11 years, and diving.
How did you make that choice?
I'm not sure, it was very difficult, but I just absolutely loved diving. It's so exciting and thrilling.
Where's your favorite place to compete?
I really like Harvard's pool, which is great because championships are there...I grew up at the Harvard pool, diving with Keith (Miller), who is the Harvard coach, and his wife Agnes. They had a Junior Olympics team, and I dove with them for five years at the Harvard pool, so it's like home turf for me... I really feel comfortable in that atmosphere.
How do you get rid of that lovely chlorine smell?
I don't! It's getting worse actually. I asked the coach once and he said that the chlorinator broke and that they have to put it in themselves.... Whenever I shower in the morning, I reek of chlorine, if I wet my hair I smell like chlorine. My friends are like, "Jess..." It just stays with you.
What's the best part of Brown athletics?
I just love knowing everyone on the teams. They are such well-rounded people, and they're excited for other peoples' sports because they are in the same boat. It's nice to have a mini-community within Brown. On my team, I love the camaraderie and the excitement that everyone has, it's great to come in and have a niche and a group of people working towards a common goal.
So, what role do you play on the team?
I've been a captain for two years, so I have an obvious leadership role, but I also try and feel out everyone's personalities and see what works best for them. Sometimes people work best when you push them, other times they can do it better on their own. At times people just need to have someone that will listen, cheesy I know.
What's your concentration?
I'm a neuroscience major. I'm doing research with Will Heindel, and although he's a psych professor, he works with neuro-imaging. I'm working with him on Alzheimer's research.
Are you looking to do it post-grad?
I'm pre-dental right now, so I'm taking my dental boards this summer. But it might take me a year or two at random jobs for me to, oh, find myself.
Have there been any bumps in the road this season? I actually injured my back at the Dartmouth meet in November and the trainers didn't want me to dive. I didn't practice for two weeks, and then I went out and dove at the Princeton meet anyway, which wasn't smart, but all I could think about was how it was senior year. Then I injured my ankle right before the Yale meet.
When will the season end for you?
I qualified for (Zone A) NCAAs, and this year it's exciting because it's the first year I get to go with other people. Two others on the diving team, Dana Meadows ('07) and Kai Robinson ('09) qualified as well. It's in Annapolis, Maryland (at the Naval Academy.) Top two in each event go to nationals.
What will it be like for you after the season to just a typical senior?
It will be really fun... it's been hard with my roommates not on the team. It mixes things up, because I get to be around different people, but they can go out any day of the week while I have to still focus for the next two weeks.
Where do you live?On Euclid, above Store 24. I'm still on meal plan.
What's your favorite dining hall food?
Chicken fingers! And the other day they had this really great Asian fusion dish. I'm also a big dessert person. Are you still on meal plan?
Totally. It makes dinner after practice so much easier!
I'm on 10 (meals) a week. You don't want to grocery shop, cook and clean up after a hard practice... plus, you want to have a variety which is hard to do with such little time.
Next year, what will you miss the most about Providence and Brown?
I'll miss being around all my friends at one particular time in my life. Never again will I be around so many people, so much excitement, so much enthusiasm. Brown has a certain atmosphere about it that I love. It's so nice to be able to walk into any building on campus on any given day and know at least a few people and see those smiling faces.
