Hudson Valley Dive Camp is a warm-up for an exciting season to come

The Hudson Valley Dive Camp is making a splash (while the divers train not to) this week at Warwick Valley High School, bringing together divers from across the area for a week of training and fun!

Open to divers at any skill level, the Hudson Valley Dive Camp is both a welcoming and encouraging entry point for newcomers and a key preseason opportunity for seasoned athletes. Campers learn the basics and receive fine-tuning tips from an accomplished coaching staff made up of Warwick Valley Wildcat diving coaches Greg Voloshin (WVHS ‘97), Chris Blackwell, and Chris Deaver (WVHS ‘13). All three were competitive high school and collegiate divers and record holders at their respective schools: Boston University, Marist College, and Alfred University.

With more than 15 participants this year and nearly 20 years of tradition, the camp continues to serve as a springboard for diving excellence in the Hudson Valley. Much of the camp focuses on diving fundamentals—teaching proper board work, body alignment, entry technique, and the mechanics of takeoffs and somersaults. Novice divers begin with the basics, learning safe approaches and techniques, and how to execute simple dives with confidence.

More advanced athletes receive tailored feedback to refine their mechanics and increase the degree of difficulty in their routines. When we visited the campers midweek, they were also engaged in dryland drills, including stretching that helps ensure athletes build the strength, flexibility, and focus required to dive safely and successfully.

Many of the campers are current Wildcat divers, and anyone who follows the sport knows that the Warwick Valley boys diving team is coming off an unprecedented 2025–26 campaign! The Wildcats posted a dominant 7–1 dual-meet record and captured their first OCIAA Division 2 Championship since 1996, sweeping the top six spots. At the Section IX Championships, they delivered an historic sweep of the podium, led by Drew Voloshin’s gold-medal, record-breaking performance. The team then sent four divers to the NYSPHSAA State Championships, where they secured their second consecutive public school state team title.

Looking ahead, the Wildcats are poised for another standout season with their exceptionally talented returning core. Drew, now a sophomore, is already recognized as one of the premier young divers in the nation. As a NISCA All-American, reigning Section IX champion, and NYSPHSAA state silver medalist, he holds the second highest score ever recorded by a freshman at the NYS championships – 521.50 – and enters this season as a favorite to contend for a state title.

Mac Tomlinson, also a sophomore, proved himself an elite competitor last year, finishing seventh at the State Championships (452.60) and earning a silver medal at Section IX, giving Warwick an unparalleled 1-2 sophomore punch at the top of the lineup. Junior Danyal Hafeez, a critical piece of last year’s state team title, advanced to the state semifinals and finished 25th in New York. His championship experience and leadership will be invaluable for the squad’s younger divers. Rory Wright and Jaden Klausner, both underclassmen, rounded out the Wildcats’ legendary Section IX top six sweep and bring consistent high scores that provide Warwick with unmatched dual-meet depth. It will be senior Stephen DiMassa’s first year on the diving team, though he brings experience and success from experience as a club diver with the Great Kills Swim Club (Staten Island).

Making this year’s team even more formidable is the arrival of Brady Voloshin, an incoming seventh grader who is the 2024 1-meter gold medalist in the 11 & Under division at the USA Diving Junior National Championships. Brady brings an advanced degree of difficulty and technical execution that mirrors his brother’s.

The camp also welcomed a number of female divers, as the Wildcats girls diving team continues to build. The team is excited for their upcoming fall season, with standout Ciara “CC” Herman returning for her second season. CC is a talented gymnast who has made the transition to diving, and coaches say they can see her having a breakthrough season for the Wildcats this year. Senior Olivia Zottolo is another high-level gymnast making the move to the diving board, also bringing a ton of potential heading into the new season.

The Wildcats have set an ambitious team goal of having all the Wildcat divers qualify for the New York state meet. And, as they warm up for the season, they’re also confident that multiple divers could even rank in the top 10 at the finals!

By bringing together athletes of all levels to learn, challenge themselves, and share their passion for diving, the Hudson Valley Dive Camp continues to lay the groundwork for personal growth and the competitive achievements that follow. With each practice, these divers are reminded that it’s the dedication and hard work behind the scenes that truly help them rise to the top when it’s time to take the plunge.