Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Admittedly, Genna Bradley was nervous before her first dive at the state meet in Fort Collins.

But considering she's only been in the sport for six months and that she was one of only five underclassmen - and the only freshman - who qualified for the competition, Bradley said she wasn't at all disappointed in her performance.

"I hadn't really been that nervous for any other diving meet," said Bradley, who finished 21st out of 30 divers. "But once I had gotten one of my dives out of the way, I really enjoyed it."

Bradley, who attends Steamboat Springs High School but dives for Moffat County, qualified for the state meet after winning regionals in Delta last weekend.

Her score of 373.8 at regionals also was good enough to break the Moffat County record.

"It feels pretty exciting," she said. "I always look at those plaques and think it's neat to have my name one."

At the state competition Bradley missed making the finals by two points. Despite narrowly missing the finals, diving coach Dave fix said Bradley's athleticism and talent didn't go unrecognized.

"I had a lot of compliments from other well respected coaches from front range on some of her dives," Fix said. "Those compliments reflected the hard work she and I have put in all year."

Bradley has already started to look at diving camps and plans on working with Fix throughout the summer. She also met a diver from Glenwood Springs who she plans to do dry-land training with.

Bradley said her goals from the beginning of the season - to do well at regionals and possibly make state - will be much different from here on out.

At the state meet she said she saw dives she has never even heard of and thinks, with a little work in the offseason, falling into the top 10 at state next year shouldn't be a problem.

"I think 21st is a good starting point," she said. "Next year I'll have a year and six months instead of just six months. I am just going to get better and better."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com