Jordan Grzepka vividly remembers looking at the countdown clock beneath Purdue University's diving record board in the Burke Aquatics Center and seeing it hit 840 days.
“I blinked and looked up and it said 60 days left,” said Grzepka, one of 11 current or former Purdue divers at the Alan Jones Aquatics Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The clock counts down to the next Olympics and has been there for about 12 years, ever since former Purdue University diver David Boudia returned from the 2012 London Games with two medals around his neck, including a gold medal in the 10-meter platform.
more:Why Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium is a welcoming environment for Purdue swimmers
“The sense of urgency for the coaches is often felt early in the season because they know what's coming,” said Adam Soldati, Purdue's diving coach since 2005. “The sense of urgency for the players is often felt much later in the season. Part of it is trying to get the players on the same page. The sense of urgency needs to be felt earlier.”
It's hard to argue with that strategy.
Soldati and Boudia, who was recently named his successor as Purdue's coach, helped develop the Boilermarkers into one of the nation's elite teams.
“Purdue was definitely my dream college my whole life. Both of my brothers went there, and so did my dad,” said Darin Wright, a Purdue alumna. “I always wanted to go to Purdue, and once I started diving, I knew this was the college I wanted to go to because they've produced so many Olympians and they're such great people.”
Purdue University's Macy Vieta has already qualified to compete in the Olympics representing Puerto Rico, and Jay Patrick is also expected to represent Latvia.
Other Purdue athletes competing in the U.S. Qualifier this week in Tennessee include:
- Alumnus Greg Duncan (3m, 3m Synchro)
- Alumnus and 2020 Olympian Brandon Loschiavo (10 meters)
- Holden Higbee (3m)
- Sophie McAfee (10 meters)
- Max Miller (3 Meter, 3 Meter Synchro)
- Rzepka (10 meters)
- Light (10 meters)
Freshman Boilermaker Cayden Springfield (10 meters), Zach Welsh (3 meters, 3 meter synchro), Avery Worrobel (3 meters) and Tyler Willis (10 meters) will also compete in the event.
“We've been training for this all through the Olympics,” McAfee said, “Whether we compete or not, it's just exciting to be able to compete and be here and see it all and see the actual Olympic team being made. This is more than just competing, it's being with my teammates.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @samueltking.