P.O. Male Athlete of the Week: Nick Cover

Before the season started, Nick Cover didn't have any idea what the school record was for diving at Chambersburg.

He does now.

Because it's his name now at the top of the list.

Cover, the Public Opinion Male Athlete of the Week, set the mark last Thursday in a meet at Shippensburg when he posted a winning score of 309.60. That topped the previous record of 308.55 set by Dustin Boone in 1999.

"I did not know what it was, so I looked it up," Cover said. "I thought I might be able to beat it, and I was pretty happy when I did."

Trojan diving coach Ryan Crider said, "I did expect him to get that record this year because he came close last year, but I was a bit shocked he got it in his first meet of the season."

Cover is not normally that goal oriented during a meet - "I just want to do the best I can and try not to worry about what anybody else is doing," he said.

But he does have one big goal for the season - he wants to end it on the podium in March at the PIAA Championships at Bucknell University accepting a medal. It's not a stretch to see that happening for the sophomore, because he placed ninth in Class AAA last year.

Crider said, "He's got some goals set and I anticipate him reaching those goals."

Cover believes he is in better position to improve his place at states because he's stronger.

"That means I can jump higher, and when you jump higher you can spin faster," he said.

For the one-meter diving events, Cover's best dive is probably a back 1 1/2, and he's added a reverse 1 1/2 with pike. When he's competing in 10-meter competitions for his club, he's learned a back 1 1/2 with 1 1/2 twists.

Crider said, "He's raised his game a couple of levels. He's grown, he's done strength training and his technique is getting better. He's an ideal student to work with."

Nick Cover, Chambersburg

Sport: Diving

Grade: Sophomore

Height: 5-foot-4

Parents: Bill and Missy Cover

Interests: Cover plays alto saxophone in the CASHS band, and he also dives for a club team in the Harrisburg area, the Soaring Eagles Dive Club.

Favorite athlete: Steele Johnson, a diver for Purdue University

Surprising fact: He was born in Russia and was adopted at a young age.

Statistics: In last week's meet against Shippensburg, Cover piled up a total of 309.60 points to win the diving competition ... That mark broke the school record of 308.55 set in 1999 by Dustin Boone.