By Nate Beutel
PENDLETON — Upon entering high school, D.J. McAninch scanned the swimming and diving records posted in Starpoint’s natatorium. When reaching the diving portion, he stopped.
“I saw 202.40 and the year 1986,” McAninch recalled. “I asked coach why no one has beaten that record. He didn’t really know except that we didn’t have a diving board at the school.”
The next day, McAninch came back to practice and told veteran coach Tim Menges, he wanted to dive. And he wanted that record.
So, McAninch began to make the trek to Niagara-Wheatfield on a daily basis to work out with its nest of divers. Then midway through his sophomore campaign, as his skills began to develop, McAninch joined Wings Diving, a renowned club based out of the University at Buffalo.
“It’s a really good program and things kind of took off from there,” McAninch said, while noting that his only other times to competitively dive are at away meets.
As a junior, McAninch steadily climbed up the Section VI standings, eventually finishing ninth at sectionals. He also closed within mere points of that school record he was eying, giving him more than a year to sit and stew on the mark.
In the first meet of this, his final season wearing the garnet and gray, McAninch eclipsed Scott Stillwell’s record. He’s since re-set the mark to where it currently stands, 209.53.
More remarkable than the numbers, though, is the fact that McAninch has accomplished all this while still swimming. Menges characterizes him as a top three sprinter on the team and notes that he plans to use him in both the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays at the ECIC and Section VI championships.
“He’s not only a valuable asset on the diving board, but in the the pool as well,” Menges said.
McAninch just wanted to stay true to his roots.
“I started off with swimming,” he said. “It’s where I came from. I feel an obligation of sorts to swim and help my teammates.”
That type of attitude is a breath of fresh air for Menges.
“He’s really emerged as a leader,” the coach said. “He’ll do anything for us.”
The Spartans are currently 11-1 on the season, but McAninch and Co. know the most important time of year is next month at Erie Community College. That’s when McAninch hopes to leave his biggest mark on the program.
“If I can put a bunch of my high (degree of difficulty) dives together, states may be in my future,” he said.
McAninch plans to attend either Cortland State or UB next fall and possibly dive.
