Maggie Merriman, Parker Hardigree and Kelliann Howell

MOULTRIE – Moss Farms Diving has a chance to make another significant impact on the NCAA scene for the next four years. Three members of the senior class of 2018 at Colquitt County High are on their way to the Division I level as they signed scholarships with three major programs on Monday.

There’s the relative newcomer, Maggie Merriman, who transferred to Moultrie from Florida after the 2016 USA Diving Nationals held at the Moose Moss Aquatic Center. Already a multi-Gold medal winner at the international level, Merriman chose to be a part of Purdue University’s program in Indiana and the Big Ten Conference.

Kelliann Howell and Parker Hardigree, both not only winners for Moss Farms but also the Colquitt County High Packers, are also in their senior year and made their big decisions about the future official. Howell will fulfill a long-time dream of attending and diving for the University of Georgia. Hardigree had a slew of choices – most in the Southeastern Conference including UGA – but found his place at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Merriman is a gold, silver and bronze medalist at USA Diving Nationals in the platform and synchronized platform. She’s also won five medals at the YMCA Nationals, a silver at the Pan-American Junior Championships, and the captain’s tag for Team USA at the Junior Worlds. Nearly all of this occurred while she lived and trained in Orlando. Her visit, however, to the 2016 Nationals in Moultrie changed her life.

“I’m here for the amazing diving program in Moultrie,” said Merriman. “Moss Farms Diving with coaches Chris Heaton and John Fox. (In 2016) I was able to see all of Moultrie and everything they had to offer. I love the town and I love the program.”

Merriman’s siblings Alex and Sarah – all older – attend Florida State University, which is closer to Moultrie than Orlando. She said they are big supporters of her career, and of course her parents are also her “No. 1 cheerleaders” in helping her pursue her diving dreams. The main dream: To be a collegiate diver.

“I’ve learned so much,” said Merriman about how Moss Farms has enhanced her abilities as a diver. “Everything involved with it, not just the dives. The skills, strength and conditioning, the drylands, the whole package.”

Merriman started diving at age 9, and in almost a decade the sport took her all over the United States plus Russia and China.

“I would say my biggest accomplishment … I’ve been Junior National Champion three times,” said Merriman. “Representing the United States of America, it’s such an amazing experience going overseas diving with many other countries and learning about different cultures. There’s no greater feeling than having Team USA on your suit.”

Merriman has more junior national championships to pursue over the next summer as her ongoing training with Moss Farms continues. When it’s time to enroll and be a part of Purdue University, she said she will strive to be an NCAA qualifier all four years.

“It’s pretty much diving,” said Merriman about what her life’s about. “But I love hanging out with friends and family. I plan on studying health sciences since I am going into the medical field.”

Howell’s path to the diving well started out like a few others on her Diving Tigers team; she is a former gymnast who fell in love with diving six years ago. Being a part of the Georgia Bulldog diving program puts her under the tutelage of Dan Laak, a three-time National Coach of the Year and four-time Olympics coach.

“I’ve grown up as a Bulldog,” she said. “Their facilities are awesome. It’s a lot like what you see here at Moss Farms. Their team is awesome. They’ve won NCAAs before. I’m excited to go into the program and work super hard and give it all I’ve got. (Laak) is awesome. He seems like a coach I can get along with.”

Six years ago Howell tried out diving. She said being a gymnast taught her not only forms, but how to be a competitor. Transitioning from mats to a pool, Howell became a four-time AAU All-American and the 2016 GHSA state 1-meter springboard champion in Class 6A. She’s finished in the top five all three previous high school seasons.

“I’ve gotten a lot better since I started. When I started, I was learning jumps,” she said. “Now, I can add a flip in every direction. My best dive is probably front 3 1/2 off the 10-meter.

“It’s my last year (of high school diving), so I just want to go and have fun, and go out with a bang.”

As a Georgia student, Howell, whose father is Colquitt County school superintendent Doug Howell, is considering studying early childhood education and becoming a teacher.

Hardigree would also like to see his high school diving career end with a bang. He’s a two-time GHSA champion from his freshman and sophomore seasons, but missed out on first place as a junior despite making his best score on the 1-meter. A veteran of many USA Diving Junior and Senior Nationals as well as YMCA National meets, Hardigree drew the attention of some big names on the college scene.

“I had visits to Georgia, the University of Alabama, and the University of Florida,” said Hardigree. “I prayed that God would open up my eyes and make it clear what school I needed to go to. I knew it was going to be a very tough decision.”

Hardigree visited those three SEC places first, then came the trip to Texas.

“God opened my eyes,” he said about SMU. “Everything was beautiful. The campus was absolutely stunning. They have a brand new diving facility, the newest in the world. It was very clear where I needed to be.

“My goals are to help contribute to the team, give as much as I can to them. Hopefully give them points towards the NCAA championship.”

Diving’s been a part of Hardigree for almost 11 years.

“Diving has taught me how to overcome obstacles,” he said. “If something is tough, you need to work through it, not run away from it. Learning new dives, my coaches taught me to overcome the fear. And to be a better person, be nice to people, how to be a good leader, so many good traits.”

As for not winning state last year when the new Class 7A was combined with 6A, Hardigree said he did the best he could, but somebody else did better.

“I congratulated him right after my dive. I knew it was over,” he said.

This season – “hopefully” – everyone will be congratulating him. That’s the plan anyway. Another plan involves school at SMU, and for Hardigree it’s a degree in mechanical engineering.

“I really like cars and how they work, the engines, so I want to learn how everything works,” he said.