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Summarized by Kent Larsen
RM Returns To NCAA Championship, Maybe Olympics
Ft Lauderdale FL Sun-Sentinel 11May00 S2
By Sharon Robb
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA -- Less than a year after returning from an
LDS mission to Argentina, olympic-class diver Tyce Routson is back in
top form. Routson, currently a senior at the University of Miami, won
his first NCAA championship since returning, and is back in
contention for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
Routson has two other NCAA titles, won in the 1997 NCAA championships
before his mission. At that point, Routson was considered an early
hopeful for the 2000 Olympics. But Routson shocked his coach by
choosing to go on a mission. "It was quite a commitment on his part,"
said his coach, Randy Ableman, who gave Routson his blessing. "It was
something I wanted to do," said Routson. "I didn't know what to
expect. It was two years of service in any way that the people needed
it."
Now, Routson is one of 18 divers competing this weekend in the
FINA/USA Diving Grand Prix at the International Swimming Hall of Fame
Aquatic Complex, a competition lasting until Sunday. Fortunately,
Routson's diving skills returned quickly following his mission. "I
was a little bit lost when I got back on a board, but it felt good to
be back," Routson said. "First, Randy gave me this big bear hug when
he saw me, and then he said, `We have a lot of work to do.' Sometimes
it's almost better starting all over from scratch. Taking two years
off, there was doubt. I kept thinking where would I be when I came
back. I notice a lot of people have gotten a lot better. I am just
trying to get back to where I was and feel happy about what I'm
doing."
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