Lucas James helps to rise Rebels’ diving fortures

UNLV has long had a strong tradition in swimming but not so much success in diving. Lucas James is helping to change that.

The Rebels senior was the first UNLV male diver in more than 10 years to qualify for the NCAA Zone Diving Meets last season and will compete against the best college divers in the West for the second straight year March 7th to 9th at Northern Arizona University.

He'll warm up for the NCAA meet at this week's Western Athletic Conference Championships, scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday in Houston.

James took second in the 1-meter and fourth in the 3-meter and platform diving events at last year's WAC Championships. He has broken both of UNLV's springboard records — setting the 3-meter mark last season (356 points) and 1-meter mark (333.40) on Jan. 30 at UNLV — and third-year Rebels diving coach Derek Starks said James has a chance to break the school platform records as well.

"Hands down, he's the hardest worker I've ever coached," Starks said. "When I tell him to do five reps, he'll do 10. When I first met him, he told me he's not one of the most talented divers but he's the hardest worker. Now, he is one of the most talented divers in the conference."

In addition to diving for UNLV, James represented the local High Stakes Diving Club last year at his first USA Diving Nationals, competing with the top divers in the nation.

While most top college divers have been competing since they were 10 years old or younger and/or have a gymnastics background, James swam and played football and water polo in high school before taking up diving his junior year.

"At the very beginning of my college career, I wasn't that good, but I've gotten a lot better because of Derek," James said. "He's an amazing coach."

James also attributes his rapid rise in the sport to performing countless flips on his family's backyard trampoline growing up in San Diego and to his tireless work ethic.

"I'm not the best but I do work as hard as I can. Same thing for school. I'm not the smartest but I try the hardest," James said. "Work ethic is something I really admire about people and I strive to do better each day."

An aspiring doctor, James has had plenty of work to do during his senior year. When he hasn't been busy with diving or academics, he's been studying for his Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a six-hour exam he'll take in May.

"It's been fun this semester," he said, only half-jokingly. "Usually people spend five or six months studying for (the MCAT) every day. I like being busy."

A literal one-man show as UNLV's only male diver the last two years, James hopes to make it to the NCAA Championships as much for the school as for himself.

"If I can get to the top level of the NCAAs, it's going to show people that UNLV isn't just a swim program but a diving program as well," he said.

Starks, a former All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference Diver of the Year for Miami, hopes to eventually get a new facility built in Las Vegas as UNLV still doesn't have a diving platform.

"I'm hoping diving can get more recognition. There's a lot of talent in the Las Vegas area and our long-term goal is to be able to build a national training center," he said. "There are a lot of successful gymnastics programs we can draw from as well. I think it's time for diving to make its mark in Las Vegas."

IN THE ZONE — UNLV freshman Alyssa Arnett and sophomore Mykayla Fielding also have qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones.

In one of the best showings by the Rebel women divers in years, Arnett turned in a career-high score of 323.65 to finish fourth overall on the 3-meter board Thursday at the Mountain West Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Texas A&M Natatorium in College Station, Texas. Arnett's score was the seventh-highest in school history.

BACK ON TRACK — Several UNLV women's track and field athletes are expected to contend for titles at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, scheduled from Thursday to Saturday at Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Kaysee Pilgrim is favored to win the high jump and Ayana Gales has the top long jump. Auzsane Crowe-Carter and Mandy Chitwood should be in the mix in the 800-meter run. Crowe-Carter is the two-time conference outdoor champion in the 800 and Chitwood, a Canyon Springs High School product, took second in the 800 at last year's indoor meet.

Laura Anuakpado was second in the 400 at last year's indoor meet and anchored the winning 4-by-400-meter relay team. Drea Austin, a Foothill High product, is one of the favorites in the 200.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33