cooooooop!

 While the rest of the family loafed at the pool, Ben and Cooper flew to Charlotte, NC, for the AAU Red-White-Blue Diving Championships. Technically, Cooper only qualified in 3 meter and platform, but he got a call up in 1 meter (he finished 8th at the qualifier, and only the top 6 make it to nationals, but lucky for him, 2 boys ahead of him couldn't go), so he competed in all 3 events.

He placed 14th in 1-meter, just out of the top 12 medal race.

Then the next day, he came back to place 6th in platform. 6th! At nationals! Competing in the 14/15 age group even though he is a tiny little 13 (dive uses your bday by the end of the calendar year, so the later birth month kids are kind of screwed).

He finished out the meet placing 7th (by.4 points!) in 3 meter.

Ben was an excellent sports dad and made sure to join in on all the team fun (Top Golf, escape rom, dinners out, sand volleyball for the kids, etc)-- I am going to  follow this example at dance nationals next month.

Next for Coop is one more national qualifier (USA Diving Zones) and a chance to compete at the USA Diving Junior National Championships is Mission Viejo in July. CROSS YOUR FINGERS.

(Yes there are at least 4 diving nationals: YMCA Swimming and Diving (our club does not compete on this circuit); AAU National Championships (this is something you can qualify for based on a score at a regular season meet. Cooper is qualified, but his club favors RWB and USA Diving); AAU Red White Blue National Championships (the one he went to, slightly more prestigious because you have to place 6th or better at a qualifying meet), and USA Diving Junior National Championships (this is the top tier event).)

What's really cool about AAU is that their have a national team that even winners make, and that team travels all over the world. Coop would love to make that team someday (USA has one, too, and ditto). 

He competes 9 dives per event, but here are a couple faves from last weekend.

Platform:

3 meter: