ALL THAT JAS: Community Park Bluefish diving star Jasmine Horan, center, celebrates with coaches Greg Sullivan, left, and Erica Serpico after taking first in both the girls’ 12-and-under and 12-and-under (open) categories at the recently-held Princeton-Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) championships. Horan’s heroics helped the Bluefish earn the team title as they piled up 409 points, well ahead of the 299 scored by second-place Nassau Swim Club.

With Horan Flying High to 2 Crowns, CP Bluefish Wins PASDA Diving Title

Bill Alden

Jasmine Horan was more than a little apprehensive when she took up diving in 2005 for the Community Park Bluefish swim team.

“The first time I ever went off the board was the first day at practice; I was really scared,” recalled Horan, who was eight years old at the time.

“There were lifeguards in the water ready to catch me. I was so afraid when I was just jumping off. I was just so scared of drowning.”

It didn’t take long for Horan to conquer her fear. “After that, I realized it was fun,” added Horan.

“It’s much different from swimming where you are mostly in the water. In diving, it’s the opposite because you are mostly in the air.”

Horan had a lot of fun in the recently-held Princeton-Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) championships, taking first in both the girls’ 12-and-under and 12-and-under (open) categories. (The 12-and-under open category includes 9, 10, and 11-year-old divers.)

Horan’s heroics helped CP take first in the team standings as it piled up 409 points, well ahead of the 299 scored by second-place Nassau Swim Club.

Other winners for the Bluefish included Danielle Blecher in the girls’ 8-and-under, Take Numata in the boys’ 12-and-under, and Kasey Sohmer, who won both the girls’ 14-and-under and the girls’ 18-and-under (open) classifications.

The 11-year-old Horan, who also won PASDA diving championships in 2006 and 2007, credited her double title this summer to some good coaching.

“I was really amazed,” asserted Horan, who will be entering sixth grade at John Witherspoon School this September.

“I really have to concentrate in competition; I think about what I am doing. I try to make sure that I remember what my coaches (Greg Sullivan and Erica Serpico) said. They give really good advice. They helped me really perfect my dives. I learned a couple of new dives.”

In assessing her diving repertoire, Horan points to three main moves. “My favorite dives are the inward dive tuck, front drive straight, and front one and a half tuck,” said Horan.

“Those are really fun for me. For the one and a half; I don’t really think about it. I kind of just let it go and then I stop it at one point and then I dive in. On the front dive, it kind of feels like I’m flying. I dive really straight.”

While the versatile Horan has a lot on her athletic plate, she plans to keep flying high for CP.

“I play basketball, softball, and lacrosse,” said Horan. “I’m going to start field hockey and track at JW. I’m trying to decide on one major sport to play in college. I’m definitely going to continue diving for CP in the summer. I really like it; it’s really fun.”

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