RALEIGH- In just over a year, senior diver Rachel Mumma has brought the status of NC State’s diving team into a national spotlight. The amount that she has accomplished in a short time has not only boosted the reputation of the diving program, but NC State’s women’s swimming and diving team as a whole.
After undergoing multiple coaching staff changes during Mumma’s time at NC State, Yahya Radman was named the Wolfpack’s head diving coach this time last year, and has helped to push Mumma to the elite athlete that she is today.
“I’d say more than anything the change that I’ve seen in Rachel in the past year is the confidence in herself and in her ability. She’s always been told that she was a special and elite athlete but I don’t think she’s ever realized it,” Radman said.
“It’s obvious how much she wants it and how driven she is to be the best.”
Last season Mumma tabbed honorable mention All-America honors on the one-meter dive, qualified in all three diving events at the NCAA championships, broke the one-meter dive school record and competed for the United States at one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.
So far in her final season with the Pack, Mumma has collected 10 top-3 finishes, including eight wins and three ACC Female Diver of the Week mentions.
“I feel like Yahya’s coaching style has really clicked with my learning process. He’s really found ways to communicate with me that I understand to make things more consistent and make me a better diver overall,” Mumma mentioned.
“He’s made me feel more confident and comfortable in the dives that I was afraid of. The higher volume of practices has made some things seem so little when I used to put so much pressure on them.”
With the 2015 USA Diving Winter National Championships as a halfway mark in the 2015-16 season, Mumma has been a dominating presence in all five meets that she has competed in. Her final year is turning into a breakout season for the star diver.
“I think it’s great that everything is coming together for her this year, and I think it says a lot about her character and drive,” Radman explained.
“I’m glad to see that her hard work is starting to pay off for her and that she’s getting the recognition she deserves. It’s outstanding to see her do so well and we’re all very proud of her.”
Mumma has embraced the opportunity she has to make a statement in her final year, and in doing so has competed with a relaxed mindset.
“I’ve been keeping a positive attitude, not really putting pressure on myself. Since it’s my last year I don’t want to feel the pressure, and have instead been focusing on having fun and supporting the team,” Mumma said.
Last season at the USA Diving Winter National Championships, the Harrisburg, Pa., native finished fourth on the one-meter dive to earn a spot on the USA Diving National Team for the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju City, South Korea.
Her accomplishment marked the first time anyone from NC State’s diving program has made the national roster.
“The experience in South Korea was unreal,” Mumma said. “Never traveling abroad before I didn’t know what to expect, so when I got there it was like a whole new world and it was really cool to see that.”
At the World University Games, Mumma made it through the preliminaries and semi-finals to the finals where she finished eighth. She was the only member of Team USA to advance to the one-meter finals.
“Seeing where I finished definitely built my confidence in knowing that I can be there and compete at that level. I knew there was I reason I was there, and it was a big confidence boost heading into my last year.”
This year’s Winter Nationals will serve as the first of four opportunities for Mumma to earn her Olympic Trial cut on the three-meter dive. She also looks to stay in the mindset of advancing to the third and final session, with potential to make another great showing at the national event.
“Aside from trying to get her Olympic trial cut, consistency is the goal this week. We’re trying to focus on one dive at a time, not looking a very big picture. Our goal is to just keep advancing into the semi-finals and finals, to hit the right tones at the right time and to have fun,” Radman added.
Looking ahead to the second half of her senior campaign, Mumma will aim to finish her collegiate career on a strong note. With the success she has already made in a few months, the sky is the limit as to what she can accomplish.
“The big focus up until now has been Winter Nationals, and then after this week I will start working towards ACCs. I will be more focused on Zones because that will be my chance to qualify for NCAAs and another chance at getting my trial cut. I will work to reach my goals at Zones and work from there to finish the season on a high note,” Mumma said.
Swimming news courtesy of NC State Swimming & Diving.
