Jesse Dehnert had a pretty good idea he was going to crack the Kentwood High record book. He had examined the swim team’s diving standards and figured it was just a matter of time until his name appeared.
As it turned out, the Kentwood junior could not have picked a better — or more celebratory — moment.
On Jan. 8 – Dehnert’s 17 birthday – the Conqueror not only uncorked a school record-setting performance, he also earned a state berth. And he polished off both pursuits with one crisp, clean dive during the Lakes Invitational in Lakewood.
“I wanted to qualify for state for sure because I had a meet earlier in the year where I didn’t qualify,” Dehnert said. “So I really wanted to. It wasn’t my primary thing, but I had it in the back of my mind that I would possibly break the school record.”
For divers to earn a berth to the Class 4A state meet, they must score 300 or more points at an 11-dive event, or place in the top 7 at the district meet. Dehnert tallied up 333.5 points on his birthday, thus automatically qualifying for the state meet, which is set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
The Kentwood standout’s final tally established a new school record, breaking the old mark of 328, which was set by Aaron Weston during the 1990-91 season.
And it all came down to the final dive for Dehnert.
“I was super-pressured for dive No. 11,” he admitted. “I was really nervous. I needed to get more than 31 points (to break the record). When I got out of the water, I was super happy.”
For good reason, too, as he registered a 35.5 on that last splashdown.
Yet, Dehnert’s diving ascension did not end on his birthday. Instead, the Kentwood junior has continued to climb higher among the South Puget Sound League and state elite,
At the league meet on Jan. 29-30, Dehnert walked away with the title, registering 328 points. It was a mark that didn’t just beat the competition, but blew it away. In fact, he finished 26 points higher than his next opponent, which was the biggest gap between any two competitors among a field of 23.
The surprising aspect about Dehnert’s climb to the top, however, is the fact that it just began three years ago. Dehnert entered high school without a sport to call his own. He dabbled in cross country and tried his luck in track with the pole vault.
Neither one was a good fit.
Diving, however, has been to be a different story, though it wasn’t until this season that Dehnert has flourished.
And a lot of that is a credit to Dehnert’s unmatched drive to succeed.
“He just has that determination and he’s always focused on it,” said Kentwood diving coach Melissa Clayton. “He always wants to get better.”
But it didn’t all come overnight. In fact, as recently as the winter of 2010 — less than a full season before he would break a 20-year-old school record — Dehnert wasn’t even No. 1 on his own team.
“Last year, he was decent for me,” Kentwood swim coach Sharon Wright said. “This year, he’s just made a huge leap.”
A self-motivated perfectionist by nature, that leap began at the beginning of last season, when Dehnert took part in a diving camp at the University of Indiana during the holiday break. His passion grew thereafter as he joined a club diving team just a couple months later.
A gifted student who sports a 3.6 grade-point average while taking a variety of AP classes and who is an accomplished violinist as well, Dehnert’s diving drive quickly became his focal point.
“My freshman year, it was just something to do for fun,” he said. “Sometime early last year, I just got really into it. Went home and watched YouTube (diving) videos, went to a camp, started club diving … I was super into it. None of it came easily. I just like the challenge of diving.
“It’s still a nice challenge to me.”
Dehnert’s challenges are not yet complete – especially with the state meet on the horizon.
An articulate sort who sets the bar high, Dehnert’s now is taking aim at finishing as high as possible at state. And, he hopes sometime in the near future, reaching the 400-point barrier.
“I really do want to place at state. It’s going to be competitive, but I hope to be top five,” he said. “I also want to score above 400. That’s way higher. I feel like I can do it with a lot of work.”
And rest assured, if either happens, Dehnert will celebrate.
Even if it’s not his birthday.
OFF TO STATE
Below is a quick look at all the swimmers from Kent School District programs that qualified for the state meet, which is being held Feb. 18-19 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Kentridge: Cameron Whiting, Chase Bublitz, Jake Dacus, Matt Drui, Tim Bergquist, Luke Dyer, Dallin Connell, Aaron Connell, Kyle Bige, Dennis Liu, Nick Watson, Tristian Rosellini.
Kent-Meridian: Matt Bailey.
Kentwood: Kevin Molloy, Jesse Dehnert.
Kentlake: Erik Fulmer, Christian Knobloch, Tanner Keeling-Garcia, David Dougherty, Kyle Koon, John Gehering, Ben Burnett, Mitch Krassin.
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