Ever since she was young, senior Kelsey Goodman has had a passion for a sport that requires strength, practice, talent, and determination. As a member of the Florida State Swimming and Diving team, Kelsey has the challenge of trying to maintain diving, school, and a social life. She started diving when she was only six years old. Her father was a huge influence on this decision. He has always played two important roles in her life as both a dad and a coach. Prior to starting a career in diving, Kelsey would go to work with him and play on the diving boards while he taught other divers. Eventually, he started coaching her, and then decided that she was meant for the sport. She also dove with her younger and older sister. Both went through phases of quitting, and then getting back into the sport. On the other hand, Kelsey’s passion helped her continue to improve. Diving is still a huge part of her family because it is something that her sisters and parents have in common and enjoy talking about.
Originally, Kelsey was not interested in Florida State because it is so close to her home in Moultrie, Georgia. At the time, she wanted to be far away from home. Her dad was the one that had talked her into visiting the campus, and she immediately fell in love with everything about it. She explained how the Morcom Aquatics Center is still basically brand new and how it keeps getting better. Another thing that stuck out to her was that the pool was outside because she was familiar with diving in an outdoor pool. Right away, both the staff and the team made her feel comfortable when dealing with her high school to college transition. Kelsey also said, “I immediately fell in love with the team. They were so welcoming and we’ve become a little family within the whole swimming and diving team. I really couldn’t be happier.”
Kelsey has always been a successful diver because of her passion to improve. While in college she has won many awards and placed in many competitions. As a sophomore, Kelsey got third at the ACC’s on three-meter springboard, and then as a junior she made NCAA’s. Every summer that she has been attending FSU, she has made top 12 at the USA Diving Summer Nationals.
Since she is on a college team, she does not have much free time. However, when she does, she likes to hang out with her friends and read. When asked to describe herself, Kelsey replied with, “Goofy, and a worrier. The team calls me ‘mom’ because I’m usually the one begging them put sunscreen on before practice or whom they come to with little problems.” Out of the pool, Kelsey is double majoring in Family and Child Sciences and Psychology. After college, she is having a hard time deciding if she wants to take a year off of school to coach diving or going straight to graduate school for marriage and family therapy. As for diving, Kelsey does not see her doing it once she graduates, but she does hope to coach for a couple of years because of her love for the sport.