Holly Waxman's Senior Spotlight
By: Caitlyn Homolya
The crowd's roar fades into silence as HollyWaxman steps to the platform’s edge, eyes fixed on the pool below. For a moment, it’s just her and the water, the world seemingly on pause. With a deep breath, she dives, her body twisting and turning together.
Beneath the precision of each movement, though, there’s a constant mental battle: the fear of failure, the voice of self-doubt, the relentless push to be perfect. For Waxman, who in 2024 became the first University of Utah diver to earn All-American status in three different events at the NCAA Championships, every dive is a test of her physical strength and the unshakable mental resilience that defines her path to greatness.
Coming from Leeds, England, Waxman quickly settled into the U.
"I came out to Utah, and I wasn't expecting to love it. It came out as a free trip, but I didn't think I would do it. I came out and loved every second of it. I could see myself being here, and then, like, a week later, COVID shot everything down, so otherwise, I probably would've gone on my trip but only to Utah, which I'm so glad I did because it just decided to come here and dive," Waxman said.
According to British Swimming, women's NCAA diving is a highly competitive collegiate sport that combines athleticism, grace, and precision. Athletes compete in events such as the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and the platform dive, executing intricate flips, twists, and entries into the water. Judges score performances based on technique, form, and degree of difficulty, making consistency and mental toughness crucial to success. Many of these divers train rigorously year-round, balancing intense workouts, academic demands, and competition schedules.
Along with its physical challenges, diving is hard on athletes mentally.
"I love diving. It's always been like my safe space, but I'm honestly struggling more mentally with keeping up with school and other factors outside the pool," Waxman said.
Being a student-athlete is no easy task; Waxman stresses that her biggest challenge is balancing schoolwork and sports. Majoring in biology, Waxman always has a lot on her plate on and off campus.
"I have no spare time with diving and if I have any free time it is spent on my school work, I'm not the best at doing school during trips to meets, but when we get back, I'll just dedicate the whole day to studying."
Although diving requires a lot of physical and mental focus, Waxman said she has many supporters who have guided her through her NCAA experience, including her coaches, Richard Marschner and Gabrielle Logozzo, and most importantly, her Parents.
Waxman traveled roughly 5,000 miles from her home, family, and friends to compete at the U, and although it has not been easy, she can still rely on her parents to be there for her.
"Even though they don't know anything about diving, they hadn't even heard of the sport when I started, but they've come out at least once every year,” she said. “They've come up for championship season and nationals every year. They were here last week, and they have gained a big understanding of the sport for me.”
Richard Marshner, the head diving coach at the U, talks about Waxman with pride after coaching her for three and a half years.
"She understands that if she can’t hit her best [dive] but still be outstanding at the sport, she also has that ability to pop off a phenomenal dive and make up any ground she lost,” he said. “I think her confidence level is how she approaches every competition meet. It has been great to see her grow as a person,"
Gabrielle Logozoo, Utah's assistant diving coach, has known Holly since her sophomore season at the U.
"She was the captain last year as a junior, too,” Logozoo said. “She has these qualities, and I think she stepped into that role, which has been one of her biggest impacts on the team, and she encourages others through her passion and love for the sport.”
Waxman stresses that she would not be where she is today without her coaches and her parents and has much appreciation for them.
She has achieved historic success at the University of Utah, becoming an All-American in three events. Yet, she constantly struggles with the pressure of perfection, the demands of balancing athletics and academics, and the inequities in recognition for women's sports.
"My most memorable meet was the Pac 12 championships. It was the 1m dive, and I'd been diving great all year. Then, on my first dive in the final, I messed up, and I was so frustrated because I knew I could do this dive and deserved to be on the podium today. I thought I'd ruin my chances, but the next five days, I locked in and thought I would do the best I could and then end up diving the best I've ever done," Waxman said.
Holly Waxman's diving journey is the battle between her undeniable talent and the pressures she must overcome to continue being a great diver. She has proven herself time and time again, yet the struggle persists not just in perfecting her craft but also in overcoming challenges that affect her daily life. Despite the obstacles or failed dives, Waxman refuses to let that stop her from trying again.
Waxman is finishing her last diving season this year. She is grateful for her college diving experience and takes pride in the person she has become: "I think succeeding, and diving has given me the confidence to go for a lot of things in the future because I know if I could succeed."