Penn-Trafford grad has NCAA diving ambitions

When she recruited him, Chicago diving coach Becky Benson envisioned Penn-Trafford’s Logan Sherwin qualifying for this season’s NCAA Division III men’s championship meet and earning All-America honors.

Sherwin, a freshman, will take a step toward both at the Division III Central Regional meet Feb. 28-29 at Denison. A minimum of two divers will advance to the national championship March 18-21 in Greensboro, N.C.

Benson said Sherwin reached the regional, one of four qualifying meets, with scores of 465.10 in 11 dives and 289.75 in six dives on the 3-meter board.

To qualify, a diver must make the cut twice on the same board.

“I would like to just be satisfied with my performance,” said Sherwin, who placed second in WPIAL Class AAA and ninth in the PIAA last season on boys 1-meter. “I would love to place in the top three, which should qualify me for the national meet.

“I plan to continue to clean up my dives for the next few weeks. I hope to move on to the national meet and reach finals on both 1-meter and 3-meter.”

Divers placing in the top eight are honored as All-Americans by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America. Ninth- to 16th-place finishers are recognized as honorable mention.

Benson, the Division III Women’s Diving Coach of the Year last season, said Sherwin has grown tremendously since the season began.

At the Illinois-Chicago Invitational on Feb. 1, he placed 10th of 13 in 3-meter six dives (283.55).

Sherwin, who plans to study computer science, said he is managing the increased practice intensity and heavier academic workload.

“Diving allows me to take a break from school for a couple hours every day and relax,” he said.