The Durango High School diving team has been completely dominant this season. The Demons consistently have a handful of the top divers at each meet, and their efforts are critical to the team’s successful season. Tess Burgwald, Ruby Epstein, Sadie McAliney and Olivia Mummery have led the Demons to a Western Slope League meet win and consecutive meet victories in the last two weeks. However, sophomore Kylie Behn has been the one leading the charge of late.
Behn’s 210.40 point total was the best at the Delta Invitational, which paved the way for a Demons win. In Saturday’s home meet, she upped her total to 213.60 as Durango annihilated the field with 672 points, over twice as many as the 338 earned by second-place team Montezuma-Cortez.
Behn qualified for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s state meet in the Demons’ second event of the season. Unfortunately, the officials recognized a mistake in the team’s dive card, and the few that qualified, including Behn, were forced to qualify again, and did.
“It really means a lot because I was like 2.5 points from making it last year,” said Behn, daughter of Jude and Kelly Behn. “My goal was just to make it. We all qualified at the same time, early in the season, so it’s been a pressure off my shoulders and everyone I think.”
Qualifying is quite a feat considering Behn was strictly a gymnast just a short time ago. However, like many divers, she made a successful transition from gymnastics to diving with the same coach, and hasn’t looked back.
“Diving has such a big psychological component, and she excels with that,” Durango High School diving coach Mark Fleming said. “We focus on technique and safety and getting into good habits, just like we did in gymnastics. She’s a phenomenal competitor, and when it comes down to competition time, she has the focus and concentration to fully commit.”
The mental aspect of diving works in Behn’s favor. She’s clearly got a gift of concentration and focus, on and off the diving board. As a student-athlete, her superior acrobatics in the air come with an impressive 4.05 grade-point average and an interest in math and science.
Though college is in her sights, hopefully with a diving scholarship, Behn is content just learning and winning with her longtime friends.
“We’ve mostly all known each other since we were super young from gymnastics,” she said. “I love our team.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is your nickname?: Big Behn
Who is your celebrity crush?: Olympic diver Michael Hixon
What is your favorite sports movie?: Stick It
When you turn 16, what car do you want to drive?: Mr. Epstein’s Porsche convertible
Which teacher or coach has had a great impact on you?: Coach Mark Fleming. He was my gymnastics coach and now diving too. He’s pushed me to be as good as I can be.
What is your favorite restaurant in Durango?: Zia Taqueria
What is your favorite outdoors activity?: Skiing
If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would you go?: The Bahamas
What was your favorite TV show as a kid?: Tom & Jerry
What is your favorite sports team?: Denver Broncos
