BENTONVILLE — A move from one city to another usually doesn’t sit well with most teenagers, but Tyler Rousey couldn’t be happier about his family’s transfer from Jonesboro to Bentonville.
“It’s really paid off,” the Tigers’ senior diver said. “I’m glad we made the move. I love it up here.
“I do miss the other sport that I did in Jonesboro, which was wrestling. Swim and dive is my main focus because I’m better at it — a lot better.”
The move, which took place before Rousey’s junior year, didn’t come without some careful planning. His father had contacted Bentonville coach Nick Nersesian to see if there was a spot on the Tigers’ diving team — something Rousey didn’t have while he was at Jonesboro.
Rousey (6-foot-1, 160 pounds) joined the team and made quite a splash from the outset. He took second place in the 1-meter diving competition during the Arkansas High School Swim and Dive Championships last year and is expected to be one of the favorites for a state title this season.
“We didn’t know what we had,” Nersesian said. “Honestly, it was a blessing in disguise. He was going against (Fayetteville diver) Parker Meineke — who won the title — and there was good competition between them.
“Tyler got to see what Parker was doing, and it motivated him to say “I can do this. That’s something I want to go after.’”
Until the move took place, the only diving training Rousey received was from his father. One of the first things Nersesian did when Rousey was fully moved was arrange for him to be with the Hawg Diving program under the direction of Darby Schultz so he could learn the fundamentals.
Rousey said his strong suit has become the inward dives — those done while his back faces the pool. It means he must push his body enough for his head to clear the board as he turns his body and descends into the water, which caused Nersesian to give him the “thrill seeker” moniker.
“It’s kind of like the kid on the trampoline that does all things that scare your parents, except Tyler does it on the diving board,” Nersesian said. “Everybody is very impressed when he’s out there diving.
“The ones that come to our swim meets and are watching are scared for him. But when he completes it, they’re like ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh.’ They are like ‘Wow. He’s pretty good.”
About the only thing Rousey doesn’t like about the move has to with the trip he must take every afternoon for practice. He and his Bentonville diving teammates must go from school to the University of Arkansas’ HPER Building every day for diving practice.
“It’s tiring,” he said. “It’s a long, boring drive that I have to take. It’s not fun. But when I get there, it’s fun. I enjoy every minute of it.”
Bentonville 2012 Swim and Dive Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Dec. 13 Fayetteville Holiday Invitational# 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 Siloam Springs Invitational% 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 Hendrix Invitational 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 Bentonville 11 Dive Meet@ TBA
Feb. 7 Springdale Har-Ber Invitational# 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 District Diving Championship% 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 District Swimming Championship# 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 22-23 State Diving Championship at UALR TBD
"#" at Jones Center for Families, Springdale
"%" at John Brown University
"@" at University of Arkansas HPER Building