As Olympics Near, Divers Prep for Settlers Cabin Competition

One day after the  wrap up at the Settlers Cabin Dive Pool in Robinson, meet director Dorothy Krug will board a flight to London to watch her daughter compete as an Olympic diver. 

"It's just totally exciting," said Krug, director of the Pitt Aquatic Club and mother of Cassidy Krug, the 26-year-old Montour alum selected for this year's U.S. Olympic diving team. "A lot of kids have an Olympic dream but it's not one that you actually get to see happen." 

The pool at Allegheny County's Settlers Cabin Park is hosting a senior-level dive meet that will serve as one of four regional qualifiers for the 2012 AT&T National Diving Championships next month in North Carolina. 

Divers ranging in age from 13 to their early 20s will compete in events including springboard, platform diving and synchronized diving. 

"These are fairly difficult level dives," said Krug. 

The event, which runs through July 21, is one of four regional qualifiers for the national championships. Competitions begin at 11 a.m. each day.

Krug said the Olympics spur an interest in diving, though the sport enjoys a steady popularity in the Pittsburgh region. 

"I would say that we've been pretty even in interest in diving in Pittsburgh over the years," Krug said. "Our diving programs around here generally begin at the high school level—in some parts of the country you have active country club leagues or summer leagues where kids start as young as 6. The Olympics give a lot of kids around here their first exposure to the sport." 

Diving teams have traveled from Nebraska and Florida to compete in today's Settlers Cabin meet. Local divers, including Moon Township's Heather Lonkert, will also compete, Krug said. 

The Setters Cabin park and wave pool will remain open during the competition. 

Krug's daughter , who graduated from Montour High School in 2003, is a 10-time national champion. Krug said she's seen an outpouring of support from the Montour and Pittsburgh-area diving communities since her daughter landed a spot on the London team. 

"We've heard from so many people since the trials last month," Krug said. "Former teachers and coaches, everybody has been so supportive. Its just very exciting." 

Click  for more information on attending this week's competition.