Lana Schmadeke has a rigorous daily routine dedicated to perfecting her diving skills.
Viera High School graduate Sarah Rousseau has packed her bags and left for the University of Missouri on a scholarship, thanks to her long list of diving accomplishments and awards.
Rousseau, who competes at the USA Diving Senior National level, won three state titles in diving for the Viera High swimming and diving team. Rousseau recently competed against Olympians in 10-meter diving, which was broadcast on NBC.
Rousseau won the 16 to 18 age group in the 1-meter event at the 2017 USA Diving National Preliminary Zone D Championships. She then placed 12th in the 2017 USA Diving National Championships.
Lana Schmadeke, a 13-year-old Viera resident who attends Edgewood Junior/Senior High School, hopes to follow Rousseau’s pathway to success.
Schmadeke is ranked No. 1 nationally in the Dive Meets scoring system for AAU Diving, Group B. She has a strategy to avoid being nervous before a dive.
To reach their diving objectives, Rousseau and Schmadeke maintain busy practice schedules.
Schmadeke attends diving practice six days a week at the pools at Satellite High or Rockledge High. She also has dry-land practice three times a week. At the dry-land facility, divers train using trampolines, harnesses and conditioning.
“During the school year, I don’t get home until around 7,” Schmadeke said. “I shower, eat dinner and do homework for the rest of the night.
Rousseau will compete for the University of Missouri’s diving team. A rigorous training regimen should help her try out in the future for the U.S. Olympic team.
“I would like to try for the Olympics — it is a goal,” Rousseau said.
Schmadeke plans to dive at the AAU Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. In the future, Schmadeke would like to join Rousseau at the University of Missouri.