Natasha Dark twists, spins, dives to New Mexico stardom

Natasha Dark was born with an inner drive that has enabled her to become the premier diver in New Mexico high school history.

She first displayed that drive and determination when she was just 4 years old by learning to ride a two-wheel bicycle in a single day.

"I spent a whole day pushing off," she recalled with satisfaction. "I kept pushing myself and wouldn't accept help."

Now a senior at St. Pius X (Albuquerque), the 5-foot-8, 120-pound star twice has broken the state record for diving points, is the first two-time state champion diver with a great shot at a three-peat and is unbeaten in high school competition over the last three years. She also is a two-time All-American from club competition.

She told MaxPreps, "Diving is one of the most challenging sports. Once you take that risk and pull off a dive successfully, you really feel like you are on top of the world."

Her high school diving coach, Amanda Acosta, says, "It's all about her drive. It (success) is not just a freebie for her. She goes above and beyond."

Albuquerque Public Schools Diving Director Joe Quintana describes Dark as "well-driven, very mentally strong and a great athlete. She has taken the sport very seriously."

In the offseason, Dark is tutored by Julie Weddle - the University of New Mexico diving coach - at the Lobo Diving Club.

Weddle points out, "She is extremely smart and very academic. She wants to pursue medical school. She has that determination, just a hard worker. She has beautiful lines and is fun to watch. When she just steps on the board ... I can't explain it. She's an awesome athlete and outstanding student."

Similar to many divers, Dark got her athletic start in gymnastics at age 7. She placed second in state Level 4 competition at the age of 10. Two years later, however, she dropped gymnastics for diving.

She explained, "Gymnastics was more time-consuming. I practiced three times a day and got home at 8:30. Diving just took two hours and I got home earlier."

Surprisingly, though, she was far from an instant standout.

"The first couple of years I really struggled," she confessed. "I started at the bottom of the pack and it took a long time. The second year (seventh grade) was the first time I won a meet, a small club invitational. I was real excited, because I felt I was really progressing. The first really huge victory was (qualifying for) the 2013 club regional. I got dead last and felt pretty bad."

That same year (ninth grade), however, she became a poised, confident diver at the high school level.

She related, "I went in feeling pretty confident. It was a little more laid back than club meets. I won first place at most of my meets and was third at state that year. It was one of the best high school experiences I've had - and every state meet after that. I knew there was still room for improvement."

As a sophomore she broke the oldest record in the state books by winning diving with 494 points. The record of 492.85 by Kim Jones of Albuquerque High had stood since 1982.

That year, she noted, "I learned a lot of new dives. I was really nervous, because the two girls who beat me (the year before) were really talented. I just had to stay positive and was really shocked when I got on the podium and they announced that I broke the state record. It was really incredible and I'll remember that forever. My goal as a junior was to try to break my own record because I wanted to keep improving. I was still a little intimidated (by the top contenders)."

Well, mission accomplished. She broke her own record with a whopping 540.75 points.

She admitted, "Honestly, I didn't think I'd beat it by as much, almost 50 points higher."

Give a little credit to her good friend, Isaac Morris, a state champion diver from Valley (Albuquerque), who is one year older.

"We still train together," she noted. "We definitely push each other a lot. We play games. I just find myself smiling a lot more. I focused more on having a great time with him (than winning)."

This past summer Dark qualified on the high and low boards for the USA Diving Nationals in Orlando, Fla., by placing fourth in an Arizona regional and a zone meet in Los Angeles. She called the Orlando meet "really a fun experience because I got to see the best of the best. I saw all the talent and dedication. It was more of a learning experience."

So after 10 exhilarating days in Orlando, what did she do starting her senior year at St. Pius X? She went out for cross country.

She explained, "I was running with a friend one day (for conditioning) and the coach just assumed I was going out for cross country. I was just testing my body and seeing if I could reach my limits, having to find my groove. I finished in the top 10 at the district and the top 25 at the state meet."

To become a three-time state champion and break her own record again, Dark says "would be a dream come true. I want to see how far I can go. One of my mottos is 'Never give up no matter how tired I am.' I'll always remember to be positive."
 
Though she has missed the last two meets with a sprained ankle, she expects to be ready for state competition. Her general preparation includes some weight lifting, cardio training and yoga for flexibility and leg strength. She truly does like to test her limits, because this spring she is going out for track, where she hopes to compete in the hurdles and high jump.

Dark has an outstanding 4.4 GPA in honors courses and wants to become an orthopedic surgeon. She likes Clemson, but is checking out several other colleges, too. Whatever she does in the future, she undoubtedly will drive herself as close to perfection as is humanly possible.