ITG-SG / September 2016
Beginning with opening ceremonies that featured Governor Nathan Deal and a parade through downtown Moultrie, the 2016 AT&T USA Diving National Championships brought Olympic-caliber talent and excitement to Colquitt County for two weeks.
“It was tremendous,” said Chris Heaton, Program Director and head coach at Moss Farms Diving. “Having a governor attend was great. We also had former divers show up, tons of community support, and even performances from acapella groups. It was somewhat of a new experience for the kids; we wanted to celebrate them. We wanted to make them feel like rock stars.”
After the conclusion of the opening ceremonies on July 30, the event itself, lasting from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14, showcased among the best that the country has to offer in the realm of aquatic competition. Hosted at the facility of Moss Farms Diving, the staff was able to witness firsthand what an event of this stature can do for the area.
“This was the third time that the event had been held here (in Moultrie),” Heaton said. “It previously took place here in 2004 and 2009. This was my first time being involved, and I believe that it was a great success.”
Financially, the program should be seen as a success. According to Heaton, approximately $4.3 million was generated through lodging, dining, and other expenditures brought in due to the influx of Colquitt County visitors.
Helping in large part to generate the success of the event were the hands of countless volunteers. Local businesses, churches, and family members and friends of competitors all pitched in to ensure that things ran smoothly over the two-week period. At points, according to Heaton, there were even members of visiting diving programs that offered to help with the running of various aspects of the event.
And while the event did serve as a national competition, Colquitt County made sure to leave its mark. A total of four members competed in the event, and although none took home top honors, it still proved that the team from Moss Farms Diving undoubtedly deserves to be in the conversation with the greats.
“This event served as quite an eye-opener,” Heaton said. “Coach John (Fox) and I learned a great deal from the time spent there. Our team is young, and everyone has room to grow, but the one thing that everyone took from the event is that we are fully capable of competing on a national stage.”
The facility and its members are looking forward to next summer, when Moss Farms Diving will be hosting the 2017 Zone B Championships. This event will serve as the last national qualifier for individuals looking to make their own push to the national, and eventually Olympic, stage. This year’s event took place on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
“Moss Farms Diving is a well-known powerhouse,” Heaton said. “The program has seen its fair share of success and recognition, and we are definitely on the right track to bringing that back.”
In the end, Moss Farms Diving should be applauded for putting together and hosting a terrific event and bringing a new wrinkle of success to Colquitt County and South Georgia. In a territory that is heavily known for football, the facility is well on its way to reminding everyone that there is more to offer.
“Everybody knows about Packer football around here,” Heaton said. “And it is definitely something to be proud of. But this event, as well as our competitors, are showing that this can be the beginning of a new era in diving in this area. The National Championships serve as a sort of validation that we can absolutely get ourselves back to the prominence that we once knew, and I believe that we can make that happen sooner than later.”
ITG Web Content
The Diving National Championships Come To Colquitt County
By James A. Washington
