New Conroe Diving Club has a Place for Everybody!

By Debbie Evans, © 2001

When a chronic back injury ended 13-year-old Haley Haynes’ competitive gymnastics career last fall, she searched for an alternate sport. Two years earlier, she had tried diving for just four months. At the time, she had enjoyed diving, but had decided to focus on gymnastics. When she was forced to give up gymnastics, she decided to give diving another try. She sought out her old diving coach, Bill Travis. When she learned that Travis had recently been named the Head Diving Coach for the new Conroe Diving Club, the Woodlands resident headed to Conroe and began training with Travis last December. Smart move. Just three months later, Haynes placed 8^th in the U.S. Diving Association’s regional competition in St. Louis. The top six places went on to the national competition. Most of those divers have been training for years!

            Haynes isn’t Travis’ first success story. The four-time NCAA Diving All-American and former two-time U.S. Diving National Team Coach took Olympic Gold Medallist Laura Wilkinson to three national championships and coached her fellow Olympian Troy Dumais earlier in his career as well.

            “Bill is very good at taking beginning divers and working with them to increase their ability,” said Cherie Angier, Aquatics Superintendent for the Conroe Swim Center. “His knowledge, skill, and vast experience are invaluable to the Swim Center and to the City of Conroe.”

            Before joining the Conroe Swim Center, Travis coached the Woodlands Diving Team for 11 years. He began teaching diving classes in Conroe just one day a week back in 1998. When the City of Conroe approved a new, larger pool facility (to be built in 2002), Angier approached Travis about developing a comprehensive diving program in Conroe. He agreed.

            “It was a great opportunity for me to build a program from the ground up,” Travis said. “I’m able to implement ideas I’ve developed over the past 15 years as a coach. It’s something great for the community as well.”

            The result was The Conroe Diving Club, which is registered with the U.S. Diving and the Gulf Association. The program is 80% developmental and 20% competitive.

            “I want to build a competitive diving team that will put Conroe on the map,” Travis said. “But, I also want us to have the #1 developmental program in the country.”

            The emphasis of the program is to teach children ages 5-12 the basic, fundamental skills associated with the sport of diving and the importance of pool safety around the diving area. Each class is limited to six students and each diver progresses at his or her own individual pace.

            CJ Haynes, Haley’s mom, is very impressed with Travis’ coaching skills, as well as his personal skills.

            “As a parent, I think that Bill’s positive influence is critical. Bill is respectful of the kids and expects their respect in return.  He offers a lot of positive feedback to the divers. He really builds their self-confidence. When your kids are involved in a sport, the coach’s influence is very important. They spend a lot of time with your children.”

            Kim Ross’ son, eight-year-old Samuel, is also in the diving program.

            “Bill is very encouraging with the kids,” she said. “Samuel is really enjoying it.” Samuel also plays soccer, basketball, and baseball. “Being a kid is about trying different things to see what you like,” Kim added. “After watching the Olympics last summer, Samuel began trying stuff in our backyard pool, so we decided to put him in the program. As long as he likes it, we’ll keep doing it.”

            “Diving is a great sport. The kids learn a lot of self-discipline and they have fun,” CJ Haynes said. “Unlike some sports, there is a lot of interaction among the competitors. Even those from different teams cheer each other on. Haley really enjoys traveling and meeting new people. If she goes to nationals, that’s great. But if not, is she having fun? If so, then that’s great too.

            “It’s exciting to be on the ground floor of a brand-new program,” Haynes added. “It’s good for our community to have this program. It’s going to be great to be able to watch it grow.”

Travis points out that his program is not just for divers with Olympic dreams.

            “The unique thing about this program is that there’s a spot for everybody. Not every diver will be on the competitive team, but there will be a place for everyone to learn,” he said. “If your children are going to be playing around at a backyard pool or at the Swim Center this summer, they’re going to be trying different jumps and dives on their own. By enrolling them in the Learn to Dive program, even for a short time, they will learn the basics so that they will be safe.”

            For that purpose, Travis has set up mini-diving camps beginning in June. Registration begins April 15^th. The regular Learn to Dive program is for those who desire more in-depth coaching.

Haynes points out that your children don’t have to be strong swimmers to be interested in diving.

“Haley wasn’t that interested in swimming,” she said. “All you really have to be able to do is get to the side after you dive!”

Call the Conroe Swim Center, 936-760-4673 for more information about the Learn to Dive program.

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