Bay County divers continue improvement

PANAMA CITY BEACH - When Randy Peterson moved away, the Bay County diving program was out of a coach. When Albie Durst, a friend of Peterson's, was hired, the local divers got a new coach and then got better.

After just a month, this has become a breakout season for divers from Arnold and Mosley, both coached by Durst. The most recent example of a local diver excelling from the 1-meter springboard was Arnold's Julia Stephenson setting an Arnold record of 143.20 points on Saturday.

The divers' early season success can be linked to their willingness to try anything, Durst said. The difficulty of their dives ranges from a simple front dive to a 2½ somersault.

"These kids will smack and smack and smack, but they will keep going until they get it," Durst said. "You can tell their level of satisfaction after they get it."

This is Stephenson's first year diving. The converted soccer player has a trampoline at home, so being airborne isn't a novelty to her.

"He just taught me everything I know about it," Stephenson said of Durst. "He's helped me every way possible. He's just been a really awesome coach."

Durst, 29, dived at Penn Trafford High School, located in a Pittsburg suburb. There he competed in three state championship meets and an afterschool diving program. Two years after high school, Durst started coaching. He took over here in July and immediately saw potential.

The girls, Durst said, are still at beginner levels. The boys are a little more advanced, with Mosley's Garrett Casey scoring 219 in the first meet of the year. Mosley senior Andrew Underhill has improved the most, Durst said.

"We have more people out there, more practices, a lot more dedication," Underhill said. "The coach is willing to work with us. I think we are starting to get some more publicity, people started talking to people, people heard about us and more people started coming."