When health issues derailed Maiah Helfer-Vazquez’s junior diving season, the thought occurred to her that becoming a college diver was now gone.
If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, the Shelbyville senior’s best diving days are ahead of her at Franklin College.
On Monday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School, Helfer-Vazquez made her commitment to Franklin College official in front of friends and family (photo, third from left).
“I was wanting to do college diving before (my health issues) but I thought I wasn’t going to get the chance since I didn’t have last year,” said Helfer-Vazquez. “The Franklin College coach reached out to me and I am really thankful to be able to get to dive in college.”
Franklin College diving coach Ty Hoffman was one of several coaches interested in Helfer-Vazquez after she finished her sophomore season as a regional qualifier.
Maiah Helfer-Vaquez signs her paperwork committing to being a diver at Franklin College Monday as Shelbyville diving coach Bri Mason observes.
Helfer-Vazquez returned to the regional round after a successful senior season that proved her resolve.
“It was really hard,” she said. “I improved a lot mentally and am still improving physically again getting back into it.
“I did become braver and mentally tougher, being thankful for coming back to diving changed my mindset on everything.”
When Helfer-Vazquez arrived at the high school level, she practiced daily with senior diver Cameron Baker. She will follow that same routine at Franklin College where Baker now competes.
After a long senior season, Helfer-Vazquez will embrace some down time before resuming her club diving schedule.
“For the next couple of weeks I’m resting,” she said. “The last four months was busy.”
All that is left now for Helfer-Vazquez is graduation. Then she can concentrate on her newest challenge – being a freshman at Franklin College where she will study Exercise Science with the goal of being a physical therapist.
“It’s nerve-wracking but it’s really exciting,” she said.
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