Kent Roosevelt’s Ella Houk stands on the seventh-place spot on the podium after her historic finish at the OHSAA’s Division I state championships.

By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Ella Houk, a Kent Roosevelt senior, began her competition at the OHSAA’s Division I diving championships with one goal: Make the last cut.

In her second trip to the state championships, also qualifying last season as a junior, Houk wanted to make it through the semifinals to the final round.

She accomplished much more.

“I was very surprised that I made the podium,” said Houk, who finished seventh in the state.

In the process, she made history by becoming the first Rough Riders diver to break into the top eight in the last 30 years.

Obviously, Houk more than surpassed her goals for the tournament.

“I had a few rough dives that kind of made me feel discouraged,” said Houk. “I didn’t think I was going to make it through to the finals and then I saw the scores and used that frustration to motivate me to do my best.”

Following the awards, where Houk made the podium for her seventh-place finish and medaled, she looked to see if her coach, Corey Spicer, had posted anything.

“That is when I saw the Instagram post about my dive and making history for my school,” she said.

Houk was supported by Roosevelt’s boys swim team, parents and her diving coach, Kameron MacLean.

“I also knew most of the divers there,” said Houk.

Houk’s career in diving began as a freshman.

“I was in gymnastics and Kent didn’t have a gymnastics team,” said Houk. “A few girls from the golf team told me to join the swim team. Diving is like gymnastics, and I feel in love with the sport.”

In total at the state championships, Houk did 11 dives in the 1-meter competition.

“I get tired,” said Houk. “The meets are super long, more than 6 hours, so you have to warmup again between dives, eat snacks, drink and stay warm on the deck. For the state tournament, I front loaded my dives, doing my best dives in the first five and ending with my easier dives.”

Even though her high-school diving career is now complete, Houk has a busy spring and summer ahead leading toward college.

“I will continue to dive with American Flyers Diving and am going to be competing in USA and AAU competitions on the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform,” said Ella.

Then it is on to Marshall University in Huntington, W.V., where Houk will dive for the Thundering Herd and has already signed her Letter of Intent.

Houk’s success came from hard work and the support of her coaches as well as her parents, Justin and Melissa Houk.

“I want to mention the Roosevelt swim and dive team, too,” said Houk. “We make sure to support each other and are super loud cheering. The team is like a family, so I felt very included and happy to be with the team always.”

The American Flyers also helped Houk continue with her diving career.

While looking ahead to her education and diving career, Houk is also excited to see how the other divers do at Roosevelt in coming years.

“Kate Ennemoser just missed making it to state this year,” said Houk.

The two girls are members of the Riders’ successful varsity golf team.

“I am excited to see if she makes it to state next year.”