Reckert's future in diving is assured

The sport of gymnastics, over time, hurt Taylor Reckert's body.

So after more than 10 years of physical pounding, she hung up her leotard following her junior year at Mundelein.

The sport of diving broke her spirit.

So one day during her freshman year, Reckert, a rookie diver, nearly quit.

"She was really into gymnastics and had a bad day at diving practice during off-season and she didn't want to come back," Mundelein diving coach Melissa Sethna said. "I made her do front 21/2s and she smacked really bad. (Teammates) Courtney Wilhelm and Polly Hirt were the only ones who could convince her to come back out for the team. Had they not been her role models, she wouldn't have come back."

True story.

"That's very accurate," said Reckert, able to smile about it now. "That day I just got really frustrated."

She's not frustrated anymore.

On Wednesday, Reckert becomes an official Division I diving recruit, as the senior will sign a national letter of intent with Eastern Michigan University. She will be the sixth D-I diver to have been coached by Sethna, who calls Reckert "a role model and a leader in and out of the pool."

While Reckert has made tiny splashes in pools, she's made big splashes in classrooms. She owns a 4.2 GPA (4.0 scale) and will graduate Sunday with summa cum laude honors. Her scholarship to EMU is part academics and part athletics.

She chose Eastern Michigan, in part, she says because of its good occupational therapy program.

Last summer, on the advice of her mother, she shadowed an occupational therapist and apparently found her calling.

"I found out that I like working with kids a lot," Reckert said. "So when I become an occupational therapist I'm going to work in pediatrics."

Stuck behind stars Hirt and Wilhelm her sophomore year, Reckert finally got the chance to dive in postseason competition her junior year and "surprised everyone," Sethna said, by placing fifth in the state.

Last fall, Reckert finished seventh to capture all-state recognition again. Her senior season also included winning the sectional and breaking Emily Hirt's school record for 6 dives.

"I never thought I'd get this far," Reckert said. "But I worked hard and got (a scholarship), so I'm happy."

Good thing she didn't give up diving that one day three years ago.

"I like the challenge (of diving)," she said, "being able to do all the flips and twists."

"Taylor is a great example of perseverance, hard work and determination to get better," Sethna said. "Once she fully committed to diving, she did it year-round."

She still will.