![Gap years are an uncommon alternative for high school graduates, in which graduates take a year or more off from schooling and pursue something separate from college until they are ready to return to their education or something else. Wayland High School psychology teacher David Schmirer believes that college is a good route for many high school graduates, however, he also says that its best to keep an open mind when thinking about gap years. “I think the vast majority of our students are going to be fine with [going to college] and [are] ready to go, but for those students who are having [gap years] be a more visible choice I think [it] is a good thing both for physical and mental health,” Schmirer said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/xZ9lq7i7NbhVXpa2kT21s3Wz8PHl5Df0bATRSq6x-1200x800.png)
![After the Raider's first goal of the game, scored by senior captain Luke Galizio, the players pile onto the glass by the student section to celebrate, igniting the crowd into a roar. "The atmosphere was incredible, having two towns that both come to support us is amazing," Galizio said. "When [the crowd] started chanting 'Raider nation' it made [the game] feel like it wasn't just one team against another, we had a whole building of fans supporting us."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06FBB04E-4C03-408A-B554-FE6C06CE8C08_1_105_c.jpeg)
For some high school athletes, breaking school records is a dream, but for freshman Izzy Irwin, this has already become a reality.
On Jan. 20, Irwin broke the WHS 11-dive record for freshmen. Then six days later, on Jan. 26, she broke another record: the 6-dive record for the freshman.
An 11-dive record is when a diver breaks a record after adding up their scores from 11 dives. This record usually occurs from championship meets. A 6-dive record is when a diver breaks a record from adding up their scores after only 6 dives.
“I was very excited and quite shocked,” Irwin said. “I came into the season not really expecting much, but definitely with the hopes of beating some sort of record.”
In diving, each dive has a certain Degree of Difficulty (DD). For example, a front dive pike is considered a 1.7 DD, and in addition to the DD, the diver will get three scores from the judges. Scores are then added up and multiplied by whatever the DD is. So, if a diver did six dives, they take whatever the diver’s scores are and add them all up, and then multiply by the DD to get the final score. At WHS, the diver’s final score goes up on a board.
“I found out [I had broken a record] 5 minutes after the meet ended when my coaches came over and my score went onto the board,” Irwin said.
Before high school, Irwin dove at Boston Area Dive and Concord Carlisle for 4 years. For the past year, Irwin took a break from diving, but returned to the sport for the high school season.
“I really have fallen back in love with the sport,” Irwin said. “I love getting to see all my teammates and being back in the water.”
Since Irwin has taken time off from diving for a year, coming into the season took a substantial amount of preparation. During the fall, Irwin played soccer at WHS, building her strength and preparing her to start the swim and dive season off in good shape. Irwin also enjoys training and doing various drills at home to stay active before the season begins.
“Even though I don’t have a pool, I would still try [to prepare] by training on the floor so I would have the power to get back onto the board,” Irwin said.
In the future, Irwin hopes to break the varsity record and continue her success in this sport. The varsity record for dive, Irwin explains, is very high and will be a difficult goal to reach.
“Breaking this record has really inspired me in many ways,” Irwin said. “It just feels like it proves that I can do what I put my mind to.”
