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Taylor takes diving prowess to UNI

PHOTO PROVIDED - Marshalltown High School senior Hannah Taylor, seated, signed her National Letter of Intent in December to dive at the University of Northern Iowa. Taylor was joined at her signing ceremony (from left) by her parents Tom and Gretchen Taylor, and Marshalltown girls’ swimming and diving coach Angie Nelson.

The time to set a path for her future was running out, so Marshalltown High School senior Hannah Taylor applied to the University of Northern Iowa with the intent of majoring in business while bringing to an end her dream of diving in college.

Sometime between her second-straight regional diving championship and her third-straight state meet appearance in November, Taylor took a call from the UNI coaching staff to gauge her interest in continuing her diving career.

Still skeptical, Taylor was finally persuaded when a Zoom call with current Panther divers pushed her to pick up a pen and sign her National Letter of Intent.

A month after her senior season ended, Taylor officially committed to join the Northern Iowa diving program next year, fulfilling her lifelong aspirations of finding out what it would be like to compete at the next level.

“It feels so exciting to be able to officially sign and become a UNI Panther,” Taylor said. “It almost feels like a dream coming true being able to go to my originally intended school and also diving and making friends and memories along the way.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Taylor closed out her Bobcat career with a ninth-place finish at state in November, following her sophomore debut at state in which she came in 19th and a junior return to finish 10th. She set the MHS record with an 11-dive score of 462.85, just edging out the previous record set by Heather (Gross) Van Buren 31 years earlier, and signed a scholarship offer to continue learning and growing in the sport she loves.

“When I was younger I always thought about how cool it would be to dive in college, but as I slowly ran out of time I had realized I almost missed by window,” Taylor said.

Hearing how current members of the UNI diving squad managed their course work with their training made it easier for Taylor to see a path for her to do the same. She was sold almost immediately.

“After talking to the divers and seeing how much fun they were I decided that I would love to further my career and join the team,” Taylor said. “I later told the coach how much fun I had and how inviting they were and [diving coach Bethany (Olson) Hovland] then offered me a place on the team!”

Hovland, who won consecutive girls’ state diving titles in 2007 and 2008 for Cedar Falls, made Taylor one of three diving recruits on National Signing Day. Abby Hutchins of Johnston, who finished seventh at state in the fall, was a member of the recruiting class as well.

Marshalltown High School head coach Angie Nelson can’t wait to make a few trips to Cedar Falls to see Taylor compete in the purple and gold next winter/spring at the Glen F. Henry Swimming and Diving Pool.

“Hannah Taylor is exactly what you see — one of the sweetest, hardest-working kids you will ever coach,” Nelson said. “She made a point to herself she was going to work very, very hard and she was going to work every single angle she could to be better at her sport.

“She’ll be missed. Her getting the school record for 11 dives was a great culmination of her career after four years. She’s a great kid, and I know she’s going to do awesome at UNI.”

Northern Iowa’s diving roster features two sophomores and a senior.

“My hopes for diving in college are not only to become the best diver I can be, but also make new friends along the way,” Taylor said. “When I finished the state meet of 2020 I had felt that I had done very well but there was a spark in me that I could do even better and learn new, harder dives.

“I am excited to dive 3 meter in college. I love the challenge of learning a new dive and diving on the high board also gives a good rush of adrenaline. I can already tell by how nice the girls were that I will fit right in with them and have a fun time.”

Taylor will leave behind her a pair of sizable shoes to fill, but the Bobcats’ tanks aren’t empty. Junior Mia Rasmusson and freshman Abby Tollefson (from West Marshall) both qualified for state last fall and will return to help carry on the legacy Taylor established in her time at MHS.

“When I look back at my MHS career, I am most happy for how I have grown as a person and seeing my teammates grow,” she said. “The program at MHS has shown me loyalty, responsibility, but also a fun time. My coach has always had faith in me and helped guide me along the way. She has truly seen me start from the bottom and helped me get where I am today.

“I would just like to thank everyone for helping me form into the person I have become today. Winning championships and breaking a school record were also a nice cherry on top of the cake.”

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