BATTLE CREEK – Even for a diver as good as Lakeview’s Peyton Elder, it seemed like too big of a leap.
He would have to chase down a legend to put his name up on the record board.
But, in recent weeks, that Lakeview six-dive school record now seems within reach and every bounce on the board is putting him nearer to history.
“That school record has been around forever. Been staring up at that record for years thinking it’s an impossible record. That number is just out of this world. Tom Fox is a legend,” said Lakeview swimming and diving coach Andrew Fredenburg. “But Peyton has been working hard every day and after what he did the other day, it just might be doable.”
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Elder, a senior captain on the Lakeview boys swimming and diving team has been all-state in diving the last two years, proving he is among the top divers in the area. But, just recently, he jumped to a different level. In Lakeview’s dual meet at St. Joseph High School, Elder broke the St. Joseph High School pool record for diving with a personal best score of 336. Now, that Lakeview school record by Tom Fox of 350 seems like it is one great day away from going down.
“Honestly, originally, I was thinking 350 was out of my reach,” Elder said. “But after my recent PR, I realized how close I am. So, my focus is trying for the school record.”
Elder came into the season No. 5 on the all-time list for diving at Lakeview with a personal best of 305.83. But, his recent performance at St. Joseph now has him No. 2 on the all-time list behind Fox.
Elder is also chasing down the Lakeview High School pool record of 317.05, held by Levi Youmans. Both numbers were a target for Elder when the Spartans were supposed to host Portage Northern in a home dual meet on Thursday, which was postponed due to weather. That meet was seemingly a perfect backdrop to pull out the best of Elder as Portage Northern features the current state champ in diving in Division 2 in William Blind. The two were to go head-to-head for the first time this year, but that didn’t happen. However, it won’t be the last as each should meet again in the upcoming Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championship meet, as well as regionals and possibly the state finals.
“I haven’t seen him yet this year, but I have been stalking him on SwimCloud,” Elder said with a chuckle. “I have never beat him. Saw him at states and conference last year. He is very consistent, but right now, my best number is better than his best, according to SwimCloud, so we’ll see.
“But, you can’t just go out and have one good dive and have a good meet. You have to pace yourself, you have to do every dive well and be consistent and that’s the key,”
Putting up record performances in diving is a rare occurrence. The all-time mark by Fox was set in 1982. Even the pool record by Youmans dates back to 2017. Lakeview diving coach Willie English knows what it takes to put up a record like that, since he was diving in high school the same time as Fox.
“That record has been up there 40-some years. You see something like that up there that long and you wonder to yourself, how am I going to get that? It’s a testament to Peyton that he wants to go after that record,” English said. “He’s been more focused on the 317 by Levi from 2017 and that has been one of his goals.
“I think after St. Joe, both records are part of his goals. That’s going to be tough. It’s about being consistent. But he has four more meets to knock it off. It’s a huge number. But if he can put his dives together, he can knock it off.”
For Elder, he says his front, one-and-a-half, with two twists is a key dive that has performed for scores of 8.0 or above. He adds that his highest degree of difficulty dive is an inward, two-and-a-half tuck. If he can hit that for a good score, he will be on pace for the record.
But English continues to try to keep his diver focused.
“If he gets either one of those records, they are going to be up there awhile,” English said. “But, I don’t put that pressure on him. We are focused on league meet, regionals and states. That’s my focus for him. Those are my goals for him. He has his own goals and that’s great for an athlete to have those goals. But we are looking at those big three meets.”
And Elder has bought into staying focused on what’s in front of him – saying if the records come, that will be a bonus.
“The main thing I have clicked on, is a mental state of only thinking of what you want to do for each dive. There’s no room for thinking of what could happen. And, whatever happens, it’s in the past. And, at that point, all you can think about is the next dive or the next meet.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Lakeview diver Peyton Elder hoping to chase down a Spartan legend
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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