Moultrie Scene May 2023 | Page 33

ElliReese Niday perhaps the country ’ s most improbable diving powerhouse . This program is often compared to the build-it-and-theywill-come theme from “ Field of Dreams ”… soon the Moss Farms Diving Tigers were a force to be reckoned with …. a force that still stands today !
The small farm diving pool was traded for a world-class facility in 1993 , with the dedication of the Moose Moss Aquatic Center in downtown Moultrie . Little did anyone know , but it would become a training site for six Olympic teams , a Can-Am-Mex Championship site , has entertained multiple Regional and Zone Championship meets , and has hosted several national diving championships , including Junior and Senior National Championships . The facility features multiple boards at the diving pool as well as a 6,000-square-foot dry-land gymnasium for additional training . During 2020-2021 season , the Moultrie Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority updated the Moss Farms Diving facility and it underwent major renovations . Among the improvements to the facility are an expanded deck area , a relocated hot tub , a new judges podium , new short board stands , four new boards , new gutters around the pool , a new sparger system ( which releases compressed air to make bubbles that allow for softer landings for divers ), new marcite ( the pool coating ), an updated video analysis system , new electric infrastructure , a new technology network and new fencing . These renovations allowed the local diving well to continue to stand as one of the top diving facilities in the country . Moss Farms has always attracted the most talented coaches to train their athletes . Currently , the coaching staff of Moultrie ’ s team consists of John Fox , CFO and head coach , Tom Gimm , associate head coach , and former Moss Farms athlete , Parker Hardigree , has returned to add to the staff as the JO coach .
Moss Farms Diving had a wonderful 2022 competitive season ! Accomplishments including :
• Diving Tigers team placed 3rd overall at the 2022 USA Diving Junior Nationals held in Midland , Texas last July .
• Moss Farms claimed 4 individual junior national championship titles with ElliReese Niday sweeping the 11 & under girl ’ s platform , 3 meter , and 1 meter events , and Beck Gregory winning the 11 & under boy ’ s tower .
• At the 2022 YMCA National Championships , Moss Farms divers brought home several gold medals . ElliReese Niday swept all three events in the 11 and under event while Beck Gregory won the 1 and 3 meter events , and Selah Huante won the tower event . In the 12-13 age bracket , Austin Leigh Taylor won the 3 meter and tower event while Kendall Deloach captured the 1 meter event . Tuck Gregory walked away with the medals for all three events . Bo Bridges was a YMCA national champion on 1 and 3 meter and tower .
• Also , in the fall of 2022 , Moss Farms held a skills clinic titled “ 2028 and Beyond .” This camp was a first of its kind and brought the three-time head Olympic diving coach , Drew Johansen , to Moultrie as a guest coach . The clinic attracted divers from across the nation .
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