John Oxford
By John Oxford
john.oxford@gaflnews.com
MOULTRIE — The head coach of the Moss Farms Diving Tigers told the Kiwanis Club about the goals and successes for the diving team Thursday.
Ed Goodman, the head coach at Moss Farms Aquatic Center, told the crowd a brief history about Moss Farms diving. It was started after World War II by Moose Moss, who had been a war hero and successful businessman.
Even though he knew nothing about diving, Goodman said Moss became a master coach of U.S. diving. Moss built his first pool on his farm in Funston before the current facility at the Southwest Recreation Complex was built, which is one of the best diving facilities in the world.
“The city should be proud to have such an awesome facility here,” Goodman said.
As head coach, Goodman said he has four major goals he tries to set with each of the divers at Moss Farms. He tries to instill a sense of commitment and support, a trust and belief in themselves, promote a sense of family on the diving team and he wants the kids to have fun. All of the goals have led to success at Moss Farms.
All but one of the divers was able to make the honor roll at their schools while still practicing diving five days a week, Goodman said. The kids also show a lot of courage and determination in performing a dive, and the kids give a lot of support to each other. That support spreads to the coaches also when a diver succeeds and brings everyone closer.
“That is the greatest and best feeling we get as coaches (to see a diver accomplish something),” Goodman said. “The sense of community here in Moultrie is truly unique.”
Goodman said the Moss Farms divers have done very well in their competitions so far this season, and they hope to continue that success. The divers have the summer regional in New Haven, Conn. and in Chapel Hill, N.C., followed by the East Nationals in Rockville, Md. and the Summer Nationals in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Moss Farms has 10 divers that have qualified for the East Regionals, and Goodman said that is up from seven divers that qualified last year. Two of their divers finished in fourth place last year, and the team hopes for even greater finishes this year. That success at Moss Farms has continued when the divers go on to the college level.
“There are more NCAA All-American divers from Moultrie than anywhere else,” Goodman said.
When asked about a diver’s physique, Goodman said studies have found the best male divers are slightly undersized and the best female divers are average sized. Coaching and facilities also play a role in the best divers, and Moultrie has a great place for divers to train.
“I love showing off the indoor facility,” Goodman said. “We have a lot of tools here other facilities don’t. I’ve never seen anything like it at any other pool.”
