Sterling freshman to dive at state meet this weekend

Long was a right fielder and catcher on the world champion Sterling Little League softball team in August of 2011.

Last Saturday, the 14-year-old Sterling High School freshman won the Rock Island Sectional diving competition and advanced to state, despite the fact that it was her first meet of the season.

The state meet is Friday and Saturday at Evanston High School.

Being a world champion helped Long, who is new to diving, deal with her first sectional competition.

"There was still a lot of pressure and a lot of nerves," she said. "But I was used to the big stage. It really helped."

Long, who is not a gymnast like many divers, decided to take the plunge into diving with a little nudge from her parents.

"They were really pushing me to do a second sport," she said. "I thought, 'Why not diving?' I wanted to do it, since no one on our team has experience with it."

There have certainly been some bumps along the way.

"I put up with the smacks and all the bruises and everything I had to go through," Long said. "I landed on my back a couple times, once on my belly, my thighs, my head – everywhere possible."

Joining Long at state will be junior teammate Charli Wike, who will be making her third straight trip to state. Wike was the sectional champion in the 200-yard individual medley and narrowly beat the state time cut to advance in the 100 breaststroke.

The Wike name has long been synonymous with Sterling swimming, and the family connection was in effect at the sectional meet.

"My aunt Maggie [assistant coach Maggie Wike] was the biggest part of my racing," Charli said. "She walked be behind the blocks and kept me calm. I wasn't nervous at all. I was 100 percent confident."

Maggie Wike is the mother of former Sterling star James Wike, who went on to swim at Auburn University.

Emily and Sarah Wolber were also a big part of Charli Wike's sectional performance.