Cloyd combines skill and natural ability to succeed as diver

As a young child, senior Connell Cloyd often competed in diving contests with fellow neighborhood kids. Yet it wasn't until his junior year at Tufts that Cloyd first became involved with the swimming and diving team. But after only a year of collegiate diving, Cloyd had already reached the qualifying mark for Nationals.

Despite his youthful diving competitions with friends, Cloyd never got involved in swimming and diving as a sport. In fact, he had little involvement in athletics overall after he unsuccessfully tried out for the basketball team and quit the track team after only one season in high school. It was at Phillips Andover prep school where Connell had his first truly successful introduction to sports, when he played for the basketball team.

At Tufts Cloyd went out for basketball again, but left after the first day of tryouts.

"It just wasn't for me," he said.

Early in his freshman year, Cloyd had expressed interest in the diving team as fellow FOCUS group student, and current senior Angela Russo, spoke about her involvement with the diving team. After asking her to take him to practice, Cloyd and Russo fell out of touch and it was not until his junior year when he saw her again that he asked to accompany her to a second diving practice.

Diving coach Brad Snodgrass, was at the practice and Cloyd expressed interest in joining the team.

"We have a long tradition of pretty much anybody joining the team with a range of experience," Snodgrass said. "If you're willing to come to practice and try to dive you're on the team."

Feeling immediately welcome and embraced onto the team despite his age and lack of experience, Cloyd began diving.

"At first it was a huge surprise to everyone," Cloyd said.

But, he quickly improved and his decision to become a diver began to make more sense both to him and his doubters. According to Snodgrass, Cloyd's rapid developed resulted from his athletic skills, high threshold for pain and his bravery.

"He is one of those people who is willing to try things and when he crashes he doesn't let it get him down," Snodgrass said.

Above all, Snodgrass praises Connell for his attitude and work ethic within the team.

"He has among the best attitudes of anyone on the team," Snodgrass said. "He's not concerned about the spotlight and you never see him get down. He makes practicing more fun for everyone because of his attitude."

Over his first season as a diver, Cloyd made enough of an improvement to win him the most improved swimmer or diver award. The award came as a surprise to Cloyd, who expected teammate sophomore Jonathon Perry to receive the honor.

His improving skills did not remain stagnant this season, however, as he continues to reach new milestones. Against Brandeis on Feb. 2, Cloyd surpassing the required 265 points needed for a national qualifier. In order to actually participate at Nationals Cloyd must replicate such a performance and send a tape to the reviewing committee. With two meets left in the season, Cloyd believes that another such performance is definitely a possibility.

"I really feel like I can replicate it," he said. "I just can't let it hover over my head going into these last few meets."

Even if he is unable to duplicate such a performance, Cloyd's realizes that he still has plenty to be pleased about.

"I'd never imagined qualifying for Nationals," he said.

Of his ability to qualify with such little experience under his belt, coach Snodgrass was impressed but not too surprised.

"It's a pretty amazing thing," he said of Cloyd's performance. "But he just continues to improve. He's such a gifted athlete with such a good work ethic. I only hope he continues to dive after college because he could be spectacular."

While Cloyd's skills and work ethic are remarkable features, Snodgrass believes that what is most noteworthy about Cloyd is his attitude.

"He's just a wonderful guy who's as nice and smart as they come," Snodgrass said. "I just wish I'd had him since freshmen year."