Swim and Dive Spotlight: Ari Priest

The diving season for senior Ari Priest has been strong this year. Ari has been the only diver competing in meets to represent Gloucester this past year. 

Ari first started diving in 2nd grade and has been diving for the GHS swim/dive team since 7th grade.

 “I love diving,” Priest said. “I look forward to the season throughout the year. It’s a unique and fun sport for me. I’ve really enjoyed the experience diving with friends and making new ones along with learning fun and complex dives to compete!” 

With the construction of the new Glen T. Macleod YMCA, the pool came without a built in diving board, leaving the Gloucester divers to find a new coach and a new place to practice. The divers now practice at the Peabody Torigan YMCA in Peabody once a week with Stephanie Forte, a diving coach who coaches Lynnfield, Wakefield, Peabody, and Masconomet divers. 

In the away meet against Peabody, Ari placed 3rd in diving, and at the NEC league diving meet, she placed 4th with a score of 189.90 which qualified her for sectionals. 

As this her last year in diving, Priest said she is going to miss it,  and would like to thank her coaches for coaching her since she joined the team in 7th grade.