Morton wins High School State Diving Championship

With seven state diving champions to the city’s credit since 1996, Hoover Buc David Morton had a proud history to defend when he approached the platform during the statewide diving championships in late 2012.

Morton, whose initial interest in diving began as a youth who spent his summers diving into the Shades Cliff pool, eventually went on to qualify for U.S. Diving Nationals while in the 14- to 15-year-old age group. In 2011, however, a back injury required him to take nearly a two-year break from the sport.

“In August he was able to start diving again, but our pool was closed for two months,” said Hoover Dive Club Coach Charlie Dunham, who has coached Morton since 2009. “So, even though he had to take almost two years off from the sport and lost two months of a four-month season, he still battled back to win the state championship.”

Morton’s win also gave Hoover High its first state championship of the 2012-13 school year.

“At one point, being healthy seemed hopeless,” said Morton. “I believe God pulled me through. And my coach’s game plan for practices leading up to the meet made [the championship] seem like a laid back practice rather than something stressful.”

Morton said he plans to attend U.S. diving regional meets for the chance to qualify for national championship titles.

“The ultimate goal is to dive at a Division I college,” he said.