ALL-NWADG SWIM/DIVE

Boys Newcomer of the Year

GAVIN JERNIGAN

SCHOOL Bentonville High

CLASS Junior

THE SCOOP Jernigan, who had not been diving until this year, scored 367.20 points during the Class 6A state meet at the Bentonville Community Center and finished third. ... Jernigan had been competing in gymnastics for nine years until back issues set in, and he was forced to quit competing in that sport. ... His decision to try diving came on the day before team tryouts simply because his friends were doing it. He said a couple of friends said they were going to dive, but he refused at first because he didn't feel like competing in a sport. ... His gymnastics background allowed him to do better on twists and flips.

DID YOU KNOW Jernigan hasn't completely given up on gymnastics, despite his back issues. He now coaches gymnastics to younger kids, and he said he still "plays around" a little on the trampoline.

QUOTABLE "Going from gymnastics to diving, the flips are easy and doesn't feel as hard on my back. I used to just run off the boards and jump, so having to slow down was a lot different, especially when you run straight into springboards in gymnastics. Once I got in the air, things were a lot easier because the flips just transferred over. At first it was slow and it took me a while to get new skills, but at the end of the season I got a lot better. It felt good to get higher in the air and do skills correctly. It makes me want to do it again."

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry