Schools

Kat Friese, Nealey Wallis Get Rams Off To A Great Start

Diving sensations add 27 key points to the team's third place overall finish.

It might be hard to classify MICDS as a diving school. But this year, their four member squad really stepped up big.

In what seemed like a marathon event, which started Saturday at 9 a.m. and ended well into mid-afternoon, pushing back the start of the 37th annual swim championships, diving turned out to be a solid event.

Kat Friese, just a freshman turned some heads, finishing third in a field of 41. Senior Nealey Wallis, heading to New York University finished eighth. Their combined 27 points was very helpful to MICDS capturing third overall in the meet.

“I don’t see it that way,” said Wallis, referring to adding to the overall team scoring. Actually, having diving at all at MICDS is nothing short of a miracle. Divers have to scrounge for time at the Center of Clayton, the Rec Plex in St. Peter’s and other venues to practice.

Years ago, school officials deemed the diving end too shallow and removed the board from the Beaumont Natatorium.

“I’d dig the hole deeper myself,” said Don Maurer, the Rams athletic director.

Board or not, the Ram divers got through 11 rounds with some high scores.

Friese is a bit surprised. “No one pays any attention to a freshman. They don’t take us serious at that point,” she said.

Might Wallis return to tutor the younger divers. “That’s not going to happen,” she said with a laugh.

“You know, I’m the happiest person on the planet. This very long season is over,” said Wallis.

“I guess we’re happy to add the points, but I just don’t see it that way,” said Wallis.

Enjoy the video and photos of these two diving stars.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Ladue-Frontenac