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All-American Who Reached A Goal By Bud Shaw Penn Sports Editor Even before Corry’s Doug Bennink took his first dive off to Iowboard as an Indiana University of Pennsylvania freshman, he had set a seemingly in tangible goal for himself. “When I first came to Indiana my goal was to finish in the top six and win an All-American medal at the nationals,’ the life-long resident of Corry said. He accomplished this with a sixth place in three meter diving at the NCAA's two weeks ago. Bennink is a junior now and his reach for the national medal has become very real. Last year, at the national meet held in California, Doug placed eighth among the NCAA Division II divers. His per formance earned him All-American recognition for the first time in his career. “Ihad an exceptional day out there,” the 6-9, 160- pounder said, ‘The competition was strong and I was really happy with the way I performed.’” GAINING CONSISTENCY But the ‘exceptional’ days Doug had once in a while as a sophomore have almost become an everyday occurence for the All-American this year. The Doug Bennink of last year isn’t the same diver that broke the school record off the three-meter board, to lead, Indiana,to, its first, Penn-Ohio.cham pionship victory three weeks ago. He has improved in many ways; ways he attributed largely to IUP Coach Ralph Johnson. “I think I've been stronger in some way this year,’ Doug said. “Coach Johnson has worked a lot with all the divers and has really helped us out. The big thing in diving is to be consistent and that's where I'm at right now, especially off the low board.” ‘The man who guided Bennink to his second All- American honors in two years agrees. “I don’t think I can take credit for Doug, Johnson said. “When he came here he had all the ability it takes. We've just tried to make him consistent. He's a quality diver and I'm confident he'll reach his goal.” But things haven't always come easy for the Corry Area High School graduate, despite his natural talent. The climb to achieving All- American status took 10 years, starting out in a beginner's class at the local YMCA. It was Doug's mother Mary Lou who got him started in his swim ming career? Ciena enemies “ It wasn’t too long before the youngster decided that diving into the water was much more fun than swimming through it. “I liked to swim, but diving was a lot more fun,”’ the fourth oldest of six children said. ‘I can remember being afraid at first and that feeling has never totally left me.’ PRAISES COACH Bennink was able to overcome his fear to the ex tent that he was named the District X champ in the one-meter his senior year at CAHS where he also lettered in golf I dove for three years in high school,’ he said. “Bill Cochran, our Coach, ran a good program and it paid off my senior year. I really learned to enjoy diving under him and I'm still enjoying it now. The decision to come to Indiana wasn't a matter of picking among a host of recruiters. Despite his all-district honors, TUP was the only school which showed interest in the high school senior. And after three years of competition, it’s safe to say that at least 13 state colleges are wishing they had done the same ee at the college level introduced many tlo the three-meter board. MADE TRANSITION “The three-meter was a bit of a change from div ing in high school, he said, “It was hard to believe that it could make that much of a difference, but it did. It was something that I had to overcome if I wanted-to-be-a-good diver. I was a little afraid at first! Bennink had good reason to experience fear, and after three years of diving there's still a toa of no easiness. Both my freshman and sophomore years at the PSCAC (Pennsylvania State College Athletic Conference) championship I hit the board, he said, “It’s something that concerns every diver no matter how long he’s been diving. ” ‘Then there was the time at the Clarion meet this ‘year, a time which Doug calls one of the 'tow points”’ of his career. It was a freak accident, again involving the three-meter board, which cost him a firm hold on first place. T was winning at the time and was set for an inward two-and-a-half,” he said. “My foot was bothering me a bit and as I got out over the board it slipped, I just fell completely off the board, I ended up losing the meet because of It.” The IUP swimming program has progressed in the past two years to be one of the finest in the state college conference. And with the two-a-day Workout that coach Johnson has incorporated into the agen da, it’s not hard to understand why. The swimmers arrive at the pool every morning at 7 a.m. and swim until . A two-hour practice follows in the after noon, “That's one of the reasons I'm a diver, Bennink laughed, “The divers only have to practice in the afternoon. You have to work too hard to be a swimmer.’ HARD WORKER “Doug is a very hard worker and that’s what you have to do if you want to compete nationally,” Johnson said, “He's been a joy to work with. Bennink has done more than his share of work in both the swimming and academic aspects of his college career. The junior holds a 3.6 in his mathematics major and also carries a minor in computer science. “It gets a little rough now and then, having to go to practice and come back and study for tests, he said, “Everybody needs some time to relax. ANOTHER AA SHOWING At the Division II Meet at Cleveland State University, Bennink was in contention all the way. But he was ranked seventh going to the final round of dives and as his high school Coach Bill Cochran pointed out upon his return from the meet, he then put on a super showing. Doing an inward 2% somersault, Bennink awed the big cowd and the judges against the stiffest gory in the nation, many of the officials,” “And a 7.0 rating was seldom seen during the entire meet. So the freshman goal of Doug Bennink has now been reached. But he still has his senior year to improve that sixth-place showing. He has two All-American titles to his name and next season -he'll-more-than likely add a third. But he hopes to do, much more than just gain the AA recognition. From eighth, to sixth, to who knows Where? Doug Bennink. All-American diver
Newspaper Details
Corry Evening Journal
Corry, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Apr 05, 1975
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Douglas B.
USA 05 Feb 2026
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