Cool champion: Malvern Prep’s Nick Harris is named 2022 Daily Local News Boys Swimmer/Diver of the Year

Malvern Prep senior Nick Harris, the reigning Easterns, National Catholics and Inter-Ac League diving champion and the 2022 Daily Local News Boys Swimmer/Diver of the Year, is one cool performer on the diving board.
“Nick is calm, cool, and collected in every meet he participates in,” said Malvern Prep swim coach Bethany DeWitt. “When Nick approaches the diving board when it is his turn, you can tell that he is in the zone and ready to compete. There has not been a meet where I have seen Nick let a score from a judge get to him. He is a great example to the younger divers and members of the team.”

One of Harris’ favorite diving experiences was at the Pan Ams competition a few years ago in British Columbia, Canada, where the atmosphere was electric.
“The pool has a Pacific Northwest theme, it was very loud and everyone was cheering a lot,” said Harris. “Some of the fans from other countries tried to bring in the horns from soccer games. I really enjoyed that.”
Harris savored the excitement so much that his final 3m dive that day, a 405c, was his highest scoring dive of the competition.

When asked how he prepares mentally for a meet, Harris replied, “I go out there and I don’t worry about the outcome. I have fun, doing what I love to do.”
Next winter, Harris will dive for the University of Texas, where he has been accepted into the McCombs School of Business.
Meanwhile, Harris, a two-time All-American, has been taking care of business on the diving board, ever since he first became interested in diving as a youngster, watching the Olympics and international meets.
“Tom Daley really impressed me [as a youngster],” said Harris. “Seeing him dive was really cool.”

During his freshman year at Malvern Prep, Harris was Easterns, National Catholics and Inter-Ac champion, was undefeated in 1-meter diving events, and broke the school record for both six dives and 11 dives.
As a sophomore, Harris again was the Inter-Ac, National Catholic and Easterns 1-meter diving champion. He won by a comfortable margin at Easterns, compiling 567.25 points, more than 100 points head of the second-place finisher.
Harris’ favorite memory of his sophomore Malvern Prep swimming season was at National Catholics.
“I really enjoy that meet because the diving is at the same place as the swimming, and I’m with my teammates,” said Harris. “I also faced good competition there.”

In 2020, Harris had to deal with the unique offseason training challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That summer, my USA team trained at a private outdoor pool on 1m and tower, and I was able to dive about 3-4 hours a week,” said Harris. “Normally I would be diving a lot more because that is when Nationals would be happening, but those were all canceled. I continued to dive outside up through November when the weather cooperated.”
In his junior year at Malvern Prep, he finished first on the Easterns Leaderboard by a considerable margin in both the 1 meter 6-dive (score of 347.70) and 1-meter 11-dive (score of 539.70).
“My favorite memory of these dives is hitting my 305c at both of the events,” said Harris. “Those were odd meets without big leadup time and no one in the stands. I almost treated it like a practice with internal pressure. I hope to not have to do that again, but I’m glad we had the chance to do it.”

Last August, Harris enjoyed what he calls his top diving performance outside of Malvern Prep, the 2021 USA Diving Junior National Championships, where he finished 7th in the 3m competition with a score of 564.65 in the 11-dive competition.
“I didn’t really miss a dive there, and it was a really fun event,” said Harris, whose final six dives were 405b, 107b, 205b, 307c, 5154b and 5337d.
Harris capped his senior diving season at Malvern Prep with first-place finishes at Inter-Acs (339.40 in 6 dives), National Catholics and Easterns (585.90 in 11 dives). He particularly enjoyed performing the 5152b at Easterns.
“The 5152b dive is a front 2 1/2 somersault with a full twist, divers call it a full out – it’s one of my favorite dives,” said Harris. “Very few high school divers can do it on 1 meter, you need to be quick through the twist and have power for the somersaults. With its high degree of difficulty, it can score in the high 60’s. I scored around 65 on it at Easterns.”
During his victorious run through National Catholics and Easterns, Harris said he enjoyed most “seeing my old teammate from Malvern, Danny Faunce, who now dives at Loyola University, at National Catholics, and seeing all of my friends at Easterns.”
On March 29, just 16 days after Harris turned 18 years old, it was announced that the Malvern Prep senior was named to the USA Diving High Performance Squad. This will be his sixth year on the squad.
Of the 97 divers from across the United States on the squad, Harris is one of 36 Tier Three Junior divers on the squad. The squad also includes 20 on Tier One, 10 in Tier Two and 31 Tier Three Senior Divers. The High-Performance Squad is comprised of divers who most exhibit the potential, skill, and determination to become future U.S. Olympic Team members.
Before Harris attends the University of Texas this fall, he is pointing toward another diving competition to be held in the Lone Star State – the 2022 USA Diving Junior National Championships, to be held at COM Aquatics, Inc., in Midland, Texas July 25 to Aug. 2.

Fun facts – Nick Harris
Favorite book: And Then There Were None.
Favorite author: Agatha Christie.
Favorite TV show: Full House.
Favorite movie: Deadpool.
Favorite athlete: Steph Curry.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: The Show Goes On.
Favorite team: “TnT Diving, or the Sixers.”
Favorite place to visit: Florida.
Best dives, in order: “My best dives, in order, are 103b, 5152b, 107c, 305c, 205c, 405c.”
Biggest diving mentors: “Todd and Tarra Michael, of TnT Diving. They taught me that hard work is the most important thing leading up for a meet. They have pushed me to work harder every day.”
Pre-meet preparation on the day of a meet: “I sometimes listen to music or I just like talking to people to zone in.”
Favorite pre-meet meal: Bagel
Family members: Parents Jim Harris and Wendy Niebler, sister Gigi Harris.