GC Athlete of the Week: Jade Casey

 Jade Casey, a sophomore diver at GHS, recently broke a 17-year school record twice in a matter of a week. 
           
Casey won the CCC (Central Connecticut Conference) East diving championship at East Hartford High School on Nov. 2 & 3 as the Guardians captured a swimming and diving team conference title along the way.
           
During the victory, Casey broke the school’s record for points over 11 dives, totaling 412.40 points, topping All-America Erin White’s previous mark (410.45) from 2004.
           
“I wasn’t expecting to break the record at the tournament,” said Casey, who didn’t find out she had the record until a few days after the meet, “It was good because I knew that I had contributed to the team. It was nice.”
           
Casey was named the Diver of the Meet and teammate Avery Kudlac was named the Swimmer of the Meet.
           
The sophomore sensation went on to top her own feat last Thursday (Nov. 11) totaling 461.20, re-breaking the record and finishing third overall at the Class LL diving finals at Middletown High School.  
           
It was the latest in a string of accomplishments for Casey, who has been a consistent diver all season, leading the way for a talented group of divers as GHS that includes Francesca Gionfriddo, Alana Mondschein, and Anna Hilary.
           
Casey grew up doing gymnastics but began focusing primarily on diving in the 7th grade, first competing through the town’s Parks & Rec program at the high school.
           
She said a lot of what she learned in gymnastic translates over to diving, saying “It has helped a lot. If I didn’t do gymnastics I don’t think I would be where I am today.” 
           
In the offseason, she does club diving at Cornerstone and last spring she dove in the USA Regionals, qualified to go to Zones, and also did AAU Nationals. Casey said the club and the three national meets really helped with her confidence on the board.
           
Casey, who grew up in East Hartford and came to Glastonbury in the 7th grade, still competes for the GHS gymnastics team in the winter. She said that diving has taught her to be a more patient gymnast, adding “Glastonbury is a very competitive town, which I like because I like competition. It makes it more fun and I like the people.”
           
​Whether it’s diving or gymnastics, Casey likes the feeling of performing, “I like to be in the spotlight. I like the pressure and the competition because in both diving and gymnastics it’s just you.”