By Shelby Iava, Swimming World College Intern
Diving isn’t just a thing of the past for Springfield graduate Jack Lewis. Many athletes move on from their athletic career in their life, but not Lewis. His future plans involve both coaching at the collegiate level and continuing his own diving through Masters.
Coaching Career
This isn’t Lewis’s first time coaching. He has coached for an age group team in his hometown of Durham, New Hampshire with the Oyster River Otters at UNH Aquatics.
“I have a few options for coaching next year, and just weighing out the options for now. I am also taking some time off from diving now, but plan to start up again this summer with my old club team in Boston,” Lewis said.
Lewis graduated May of 2015 with a degree in recreational management. This curriculum focuses on leadership, management and program skills.
Memorable Moments
Photo Courtesy: Jack Lewis
Lewis’s last meet was one for the books.
“My last meet was DIII NCAAs in Shenandoah, Texas,” Lewis said. “It was definitely a memorable one. Being at the NCAAs is an honor itself, but I really wanted to make the championship final. I was 9th in prelims on both boards, while the top 8 make the championship final. I missed the 3m final by just three points and it was a huge upset, but I knew I gave it my best.”
The entire season Lewis was consistent with his diving.
“I really proved to myself what I could do,” Lewis said. His favorite thing about diving in college, besides all the friends he has made, was following his passion and doing what he truly loves to do– dive.
Lewis’s favorite moments from the past four years are the trips and the friends he made through diving.
“It has truly become my family and I know that the diving community is something so special,” Lewis said. “My only regret was not making that championship final at NCAAs. It was my goal all along and unfortunately it fell through,” Lewis said.
Although it was not a storybook finish, Lewis still held his high because he knew it was a great accomplishment to even be a part of NCAAs.
Besides making it to NCAAs, Lewis was named NEWMAC Diver of The Year his junior and senior year, as well as breaking the Springfield College school record on 3-meter (previously owned by Mike Shaw, who was a national champion).
Walking in his Coach’s Footsteps
Photo Courtesy: Jack Lewis
Lewis’s former coach Pete Avdoulos of Springfield College made him see diving in a different way.
“His calm demeanor is unlike any other coach’s. He changed my whole outlook on diving and made me love diving more than I already did. He is the one that makes me want to coach in the future and I hope to someday be a coach as great as him,” Lewis said.
A graduate from Springfield College himself, Avdoulos is in his 30th season of coaching both men and women’s diving.
“Jack has the ability to make difficult dives look not only simple, but effortlessly graceful,” Avdoulos said.
Lewis is excited for what the future has to offer.
“I owe everything to my coach Pete Avdoulos. I wouldn’t be here without him.”
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