Carlton takes diving to next level

Sophomore Marc Carlton has been around diving all his life. Carlton's mom, Carolyn, won two national diving championships and now coaches in Rochester, N.Y. At age 10 Carlton became interested in diving, and has since forged that interest into a successful career as a Hoosier, most recently culminating in the Big Ten co-diver of the week award following his performance at Michigan Nov. 2.\n"To me, it just means all the hard work I did last year is going to come into play this year," Carlton said of the award. "I did work really hard last year, but I just didn't get to compete up to where I should have. But this year, I'm just going to keep working hard and competing up to where I should be this year. I think that's just a good start, to show how the year's going to go."\nAt Michigan, Carlton scored a lifetime best 319.95 on the one-meter board and a second-career best 320.17 on the three-meter board. Carlton said he credits the teaching of head coach Dr. Jeff Huber with how far he's been able to come in diving.\n"He taught me everything I know in power," Carlton said. "Before I worked with him, I couldn't even do a dive off 10-meter."\nHuber said he's been impressed by Carlton's performance, but that Carlton also brings a lot of other dimensions to the team. \n"He brings a lot of enthusiasm, hard work and dedication and he, among other people, has provided a lot of good leadership for us," Huber said. "It's not so much what you say, it's what you do, and he gives a 100% effort every day in practice."\nCarlton said he admires former Hoosier diver Mike Collier, who was a four-time Indiana Diver of the year from 1996 to 1999. \n"Mike Collier is a big hero of mine," Carlton said. "He came to Jeff (Huber) without knowing anything about diving and he left being a top contender for the Olympic team. And, with a little better meet, he would've been on the Olympic team, so I really look up to Mike and admire how fast he could get better."\nIn addition to diving, Carlton said he enjoys playing the guitar and is working on taping a demo with a band, although he's found it hard to fit in diving, music and school. \n"I'm real big into music and recording," Carlton said. "Right now, I'm working with some singers to get out a demo. Music is my other main thing, other than diving."\nSophomore teammate Alex Burns said Carlton brings a number of positive facets to the team.\n"He's a great diver, there's no doubt about that," he said. "He brings some leadership and a lot of motivation to the team. He's very enthusiastic about the team and what we're all doing."\nCarlton will dive at the Indiana Invitational on Nov. 16-18 at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center. There, Carlton will look to better his scores and take a step forward in achieving his goals. \n"I really think I can do really well on all levels," he said. "I'm hoping I can win Big Tens at at least one of the levels"