MISSION VIEJO Alexandra Caplan’s daily routine as a diver offers challenges of height, speed and acrobatics. That might seem like plenty but she dreams of extreme pursuits with more height and more danger.
Take cliff diving.
“Yeah, if I had the opportunity to, I would,” she said. “I’m so down.”
And there’s more.
“I wanted to go sky diving,” she said. “I would do it but it’s the idea of going there and paying for it and doing it that is a lot.”
So some adventures, for now, remain on the bucket list. But the Mission Viejo senior still happily pursues soaring off springboards, along with one titanic high school record.
Later this month, Caplan will attempt to become the first diver from Orange County to capture four consecutive CIF-Southern Section titles.
“I want that,” she said. “I try not to think about it too much because if I do, it’s very overwhelming. … I want to leave with a bang. I want to leave my mark.”
Don’t focus too much on Caplan’s bravado. Her chase for the record also gives testimony to her dedication, perseverance and balance on and off the pool deck.
And for all the risk she takes, and longs to take, she also is calculating and reflective.
EARLY SUCCESS
Caplan, 18, started diving, and winning, long before she arrived at Mission Viejo High.
She followed her older sister, Gabby, 20, onto the boards with the Mission Viejo Nadadores at about age 6.
The girls grew up with a pool in their backyard, so the sport wasn’t foreign. Caplan took a brief hiatus from but returned as a 7-year-old and as been diving ever since. An ex-gymnast, she has spent the last several years with the Laguna Niguel-based Crown Valley Divers club.
Success arrived quickly. She captured her first AAU national titles as a 9-year-old on platform, which looms 33 feet above the surface.
Caplan claimed her first of four USA Diving Junior West National titles in 2009 in the 12-13 age-group. Last weekend, she swept the 1 and 3-meter titles at the Junior West Nationals at Riverside City College, which will host the CIF Division I finals May 13.
While Caplan has an impressive display of medals and trophies in her room, she also has been known for her strong work ethic.
She practices five days a week for about 2 hours a day during the school year. During the summer, she practices twice a day. And for the last month or so, she’s been working overtime as she prepares for CIF.
“She’s willing to do the work to get the results,” Crown Valley coach Curt Wilson said. “Not everyone is.”
Caplan also manages to keep balance in her life. She is fiercely competitive and often superstitious at meets but overall, has followed the high school/college track more than any Olympic training model.
“I like to hang out with my friends,” said Caplan, who also carries a 3.4 grade-point average.
In December, she joined club teammates Makena Chamoures (San Clemente), Nicole Dutton (Dana Hills) and Payton Gabris (Santa Margarita) in signing with San Diego State. The Aztecs also have added LSU transfer and former Crown Valley diver Izzy Choquehuanca (Santa Margarita).
Caplan hopes to make her U.S. senior nationals debut this summer but needs to qualify in July.
SOME DIFFICULTIES
Caplan is a well-rounded diver known for her consistency. At 5-foot-4, she spins fast while still looking graceful. And she knows how to put an exclamation mark on her dives, Wilson said.
“She rips a ton of (entries),” he said.
But Caplan’s success hasn’t always been as easy as she sometimes makes it look.
There have been injuries. Last summer, she hit her feet on the board during a dive at junior nationals.
Caplan also competes with her left wrist taped to protect again the stress caused by entering the water at a high rate of speed. She injured her wrist diving on the platform.
And the constant challenge for Caplan and young dare-devils is to learn new and more difficult dives.
Caplan hasn’t shied away from progressing. She recently added a reverse 1 1/2 somersault, 1 ½ twist to her list for 1-meter.
She also is performing several dives on 3-meter with 2 1/2 somersaults.
Learning new dives can be scary but Caplan said her progression has been well-managed by Wilson.
“It’s never been pushy,” she said. “It’s always when I’m ready, and I know I’m ready.”
Some of Caplan’s competition attempts more difficult dives. At the recent Junior West Nationals, some girls attempted 3 1/2 somersaults on 3 meters.
Caplan is gutsy but also believes in being conservative and strategic.
“Being safe is also good because you place higher,” she said. “I’m being very consistent (right now).”
Caplan begins her championship season next week with the South Coast League finals Thursday. She hopes to claim a fourth straight CIF crown but is keeping her quest in perspective.
“I’m proud of myself no matter what,” she said. “Whatever I do, I’ve worked hard. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m not going to tear myself up.”
And besides, more extreme challenges wait.
