SARKISIAN OFF TO JUNIOR NATIONALS
DAN SHALIN
Skokie Review
July 14 2009
DIVING — After spending the high school season exclusively on the
one-meter diving board, Niles North senior-to-be Arsen Sarkisian
has been training heavily on the three-meter board and platform
this summer.
Perhaps it was not surprising that during the Zone C Junior
Championships held in Brown Deer, Wis., during the weekend Sarkisian
qualified for next month’s Speedo Junior Nationals in three-meter
and on platform, but narrowly missed on one-meter.
In the 16-18 Division, Sarkisian placed ninth on platform (312.8),
10th on three-meter (381.2) and 15th on one-meter (357). The top
12 finishers in each event moved on to Nationals in Moultrie, Ga.,
Aug. 1-8.
"It’s not easy to compete all three levels, but college coaches
are really looking for divers who can compete all three," said Alik
Sarkisian, who coaches his son for the Chicago Dive Club. "In high
school, in Illinois, they only have one-meter, so most of the time
(in the summer) we concentrate on three-meter and platform. Maybe he
wasn’t ready (on one-meter at Zones)."
Alik Sarkisian clearly knows what college coaches are looking for,
considering he’s also the head men’s and women’s diving coach at
Northwestern, in addition to being a former coach of the U.S. National
Team and of the national teams of the former U.S.S.R. and Armenia.
There is a chance Arsen could one day dive for his father at the
collegiate level. But his dad is hardly the only college coach
interested in Arsen, who finished fifth in the 2009 IHSA state meet
after earning ninth the previous season. Indiana, Michigan and Arizona
have also shown interest.
Arsen said he would consider Northwestern, but that he might want to,
"get away a little and not stay in one place, spread my wings."
Next month, he’ll travel to Georgia for his third straight trip to
Nationals. Sarkisian came in ninth on one-meter and 12th on three-meter
in the 16-18 Division at Nationals last summer.
Sarkisian said he has been focusing on the little things, which are
actually quite important, during his twice-daily summer training
sessions.
"I’ve just been trying to generally be a better diver," he said. "I’m
trying to have more technique and put more detail into my dives,
like spins and keeping my toes pointed."
At Nationals, 30 divers compete in each event, and the top 12 reach
finals. Alik believes his son is in good form and should reach the
final dozen in his two events this year.
"He’s had a good summer and now we’ll really focus the next couple of
weeks on the areas we need to improve. We’ll go to Nationals and try
to bring good results," Alik said. "I want him to be in the finals
in three-meter and platform. If he competes in the finals, he’ll be
considered among the best divers in the country."