Backup Diver and Also a Sprinter? By Francisco Palacián

Kloeppel Diving in Meet Warm Ups

SEATTLE – There was some chaos at O’Dea High School hours before hosting a swim meet against Roosevelt. A senior diver who was originally set to dive that night was not able to make it to the meet. In a moment of slight desperation, Senior Andrew Kloeppel agreed to dive at the meet.

“That was my first diving meet… I was nervous for that,” Kloeppel said. “I knew there was a meet going into that day. It was kind of meet or math test, but [Coach Tom] Schutte needed me.”

The meet was fought at Medgar Evers Pool, just outside of Garfield High School, at 4 PM on Friday, 1/14/2022. It all started with diving including junior Jake Chafee, freshman Luke Schinkel, Roosevelt’s Kyle Vu, and Kloeppel.

Kloeppel took part in an O’Dea sweep, meaning the Irish placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and Kloeppel placed 2nd among them with a score of 123.90. Schinkel, with a score of 132.25, won the event, only a margin of 8.35 points ahead of Kloeppel. Was that the end of the night for Kloeppel?

Later into the meet, it is discovered that freshman Jacob Fugaro had been entered in 5 events. According to the NFHS Swimming Rulebook, which the WIAA abides by, one individual can only swim 4 events in a single meet. Fugaro was not going to be available to swim his leg of 400 Free C Relay which is a varsity event.

Upon learning this information, senior captain Francisco “Paco” Palacián alerted Schutte. Busy taking splits in an active race, Schutte asked Palacián to resolve the conflict. After having difficulty finding someone not already maxed out on events, Palacián thought Kloeppel.

“I think of [Kloeppel] as a diver and not a swimmer so when it was suggested I was surprised,” Schutte stated.

The meet continued and it was time for the 400 Free Relay.

Andrew Kloeppel '22

Fugaro was originally anchoring in the last spot on the relay. Palacián reconfigured the relay so that Kloeppel would lead off the relay, not having to concern over doing a relay transition. This meant that Kloeppel had switched spots with Schinkel and he would be anchoring.

"I had wanted to swim... this was my chance to prove myself," Kloeppel said. "I was surprised by how much faster I seemed... I hit the water and zoomed."

In order to qualify for Metro in the 100 Free, one must swim a 1:04.70. Kloeppel split a 58.60 in his return to swimming.

"A genius effort, very athletic, powerful, and smooth," Schutte said in reaction to Kloeppel, “He uplifted the team propelled it through the meet end.”

O'Dea went on to defeat Roosevelt 106 to 78. Kloeppel ignited one of the most energetic performances of the season following a month's break from competition. Partly because of their versatility, the Irish have a bright future for the remainder of the Irish's season.