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30 | April 5, 2018 | The lake forest leader SPORTS LakeForestLeader.com Forester’s Ogawa named DIII Diver of the Year Erin Redmond Freelance Reporter When Heath Ogawa first learned he was named the NCAA Division III Diver of the Year, he didn’t react like most would expect. In fact, he wasn’t sure how to react at all. The Lake Forest College junior, a native of Japan, said he had to ask his coach what the award meant. Prior to winning it, he said, he had no idea such a thing existed. Being name the NCAA DIII Diver of the Year is the latest in a long list of accomplishments the Deerfield resident has earned. After two previous trips to the national tournament where he finished outside of the Top 10, Ogawa finally brought home a national title in the 3-meter dive after the March 21 NCAA DIII Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship in Grinnell, Iowa. Two days later he took home third in the 1-meter dive at the tournament and had previously been named an All-American. So, when he came to realize just how big a deal being named the NCAA Diver of the Year was, Ogawa said it was the icing on his slice of humble pie. “Winning NCAA was definitely something that was my end goal. … Last year I came into the competition really focused on a goal … and put myself on a pedestal pretty hard. It was a humbling year last year,” Ogawa said. “This year, I came in and I still had that goal to win, but instead of focusing on that, I really wanted to enjoy the process during the competition and all the emotions. I think that really helped me perform well.” After winning a national title and two prestigious national accolades, Ogawa couldn’t help but laugh thinking about his beginnings in the sport. At 14, he moved to Highland Park from Japan following the 2011 earthquake that devastated the country. With the future of the ravaged nation unclear, Ogawa’s parents sent him overseas to continue his education and he moved in with a family friend in Highland Park. It was here that and began competing in gymnastics and diving for Highland Park High School— though the latter took a bit of convincing to get him started. “I don’t want to say I hated [diving] — that’s not the right word — but during the season I was thinking about [what changed],” he said. “It was hard being in a new country, learning a new language and we had to wake up every day at 5 in the morning. … It was hard for me to get up every day early and get on the diving board and face [my] fear.” It wasn’t so much of a “what” that helped change Ogawa’s view on the sport, but rather a who. Circumstances forced the then-sophomore to move to Deerfield and transfer to Deerfield High School. But he did see a familiar face. The Deerfield diving coach, Doug Foerch, was also the gymnastics coach at Highland Park and when Ogawa switched schools, their relationship blossomed. “He became my diving coach as well as my gymnastics coach,” Ogawa said. “We really became close and I think that relationship really helped me in sports.” Ogawa saw some success at the high school level, qualifying for the state tournament his senior year. He went in with no expectations, but ended up missing the final day by one spot and finishing 13th. Only the Top 12 advance to the finals. He didn’t let that bother him, however, saying he was just there to soak up the experience. In fact, he had exceeded what he thought he’d do, saying he would’ve been happy with 16th. But when he got to college, Ogawa pushed harder. With a goal of winning a national title, Ogawa put in extra work in the offseason. And that, he believes, is the difference between him and his competition. “I asked myself the same question: what makes people successful?” Ogawa said. “You have a set program, people are following that program, but some might work a little harder outside of that program. “At the end of the day, we’re all following the same program, so why do some people succeed and have a bunch of success?” “I think it’s not really [what you do] during the season; I think it’s also what you do during the offseason. … I think the strong desire to succeed is what fuels me outside — not only during practice time — but outside at school,” he said. Lake Forest College’s Heath Ogawa poses for a photo with his Diver of the Year award March 24 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photos submitted Heath Ogawa, a junior at Lake Forest College, prepares for a dive during the competition. With one title under his belt and another season of competition ahead, Ogawa said he still has some things he wants to achieve before his Forester days are behind him. “I would like to win both boards. … I don’t want to say it’s a goal; it’s a desire,” he said. “My goal was to win Nationals and I don’t want to say I wasn’t expecting it, but it was a surprise. … I just want to continue getting better and if I can inspire other people, that’s the goal.”
LakeForestLeader.com SPORTS the lake forest leader | April 5, 2018 | 31 22nd Century Media FILE PHOTO 1st-and-3 Stars of the Week 1. Evan Boudreaux (ABOVE) The Scout alumnus made his final decision on his transfer from Dartmouth College. 2. Heath Ogawa. The Lake Forest College junior won a national championship in the NCAA 3-meter diving and then was named the Division III Diver of the Year. 3. Jackson Thomas. The Scouts pitcher was on the mound during the team’s win in Myrtle Beach at the Ripken Experience. He shut out five, walked one and allowed three runs on two hits. ‘Third time’s the charm,’ for Boudreaux’s transfer decision Brittany Kapa, Sports Editor Back in December 2017, Dartmouth forward, and former Scout, Evan Boudreaux announced that he would graduate from his Ivy League school early and transfer to Xavier University to play his last two years of college eligibility. This Week In ... Scouts Athletics Baseball ■April ■ 5 - hosts Stevenson, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 6 - hosts Niles West, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - hosts Evanston, 11 a.m. ■April ■ 9- hosts Warren, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 10 - at Warren, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - hosts Warren, 4:30 p.m. Boys Lacrosse ■April ■ 9 - at Grayslake North, 7 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - hosts Stevenson, 6:30 p.m. Girls Lacrosse ■April ■ 5 - at Lake Forest Academy, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 6 - at York, 7 p.m. ■April ■ 10 - at Glenbrook South, 6:15 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - at Stevenson, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer ■April ■ 7 - at Loyola vs. Glenbrook South, noon ■April ■ 11 - hosts Loyola, 4:30 p.m. Listen Up “It’s a lot of unknown but, sometimes, the unknown can be exciting because there is talent.” Having a relationship with Xavier’s then-coach Chris Mack, Boudreaux knew he had some thinking to do when news broke Tuesday, March 27, that he was leaving Xavier to become the head coach of the University of Louisville’s Men’s Softball ■April ■ 5 - at Wheeling, 4:45 p.m. ■April ■ 9 - at Libertyville, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 10 - hosts Lake Zurich, 4:30 p.m. Girls Track and Field ■April ■ 7 - at Grant Invite, 9 a.m. ■April ■ 9 - at Mundelein Triangular, 4:30 p.m. Badminton ■April ■ 7 - at Willowbrook Invite, 9 a.m. ■April ■ 9 - hosts Maine West, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - at Warren, 4:30 p.m. Boys Volleyball ■April ■ 11 - hosts Warren, 6 p.m. Boys Tennis ■April ■ 10 - hosts Stevenson, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - hosts Warren, 4:30 p.m. Boys Track and Field ■April ■ 9 - hosts Triangular, 4:30 p.m. Boys Water Polo Ray Del Fava — Lake Forest baseball coach, on the his take of the season thus far tune in Basketball program. “I was really excited for the last three months, I was looking forward to playing at Xavier,” he said. “Obviously, with the coaching news that came out this week, with him going to Louisville, that changed a Please see EVAN, 29 ■April ■ 5 - at Buffalo Grove, 6 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - hosts <strong>LF</strong>HS Quad, 9 a.m. ■April ■ 10 - at Stevenson, 6 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - hosts Mundelein (Senior Night), 6 p.m. Badminton ■April ■ 5 - at Waukegan (East Campus), 4:30 p.m. Girls Water Polo ■April ■ 5 - hosts Buffalo Grove, 6 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - at Mundelein Quad, 9 a.m. ■April ■ 10 - hosts Stevenson, 6 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - at Mundelein, 6 p.m. Caxys Athletics Boys Tennis ■April ■ 5 - at Glenbrook North, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - at New Trier, 8 a.m. ■April ■ 9 - hosts Wheeling, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - at Loyola Academy, 4:30 p.m. Softball ■April ■ 5 - at Grayslake North, 4:30 p.m. Softball The Caxys take on Grayslake North in a regular season matchup. • Lake Forest Academy at Grayslake North, Thursday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. RIGHT: Evan Boudreaux announces his transfer to Purdue University Thursday, March 29, from Dartmouth College after news broke that Xavier University Coach Chris Mack would not be coaching for Xavier. Mark Washburn/Dartmouth College ■April ■ 6 - at Harvard, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 9 - hosts Niles North, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 10 - at Wauconda, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - at Warren, 4:30 p.m. Girls Lacrosse ■April ■ 5 - hosts Lake Forest High School, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 9 - hosts Taft, 4:30 p.m. Baseball ■April ■ 7 - hosts Horizon Science, noon Boys Volleyball ■April ■ 7 - at Guilford, 8:30 a.m. ■April ■ 10 - hosts St. Viator, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - at Notre Dame College Prep, 6 p.m. Badminton ■April ■ 6 - hosts New Trier, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - at DeKalb, 9 a.m. ■April ■ 10 - at Vernon Hills, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - at Warren, 4:30 p.m. Girls Soccer Index 27 - High School Highlights 27 - Athlete of the Week ■April ■ 6 - at Mundelein, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - hosts Guerin College Prep, 10 a.m. ■April ■ 9 - at Niles North, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 11 - hosts Trinity, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - at Regina Dominican, 4:30 p.m. Boys Lacrosse ■April ■ 6 - at Antioch, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 7 - hosts Mather, noon ■April ■ 10 - hosts Lane, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 12 - at Notre Dame College Prep, 6:30 p.m. Boys Volleyball ■April ■ 5 - hosts Latin, 5 p.m. Co-ed Track ■April ■ 12 - at Wauconda, 5 p.m. Wildcats Athletics Girls Soccer ■April ■ 11 - at Latin, 4:30 p.m. Softball ■April ■ 11 - at Latin, 4:30 p.m. Fastbreak is compiled by Sports Editor Brittany Kapa. Send any questions or comments to b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia.com.
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