Boardman diver overcomes back injury to seek fourth straight trip to State
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – Ron Navarra has been coaching high school diving for 21 years. Over the last five, R.J. Keating has been one of his best.
'I honestly think it's the most beautiful sport,' Navarra said. 'It has to be beautiful for you to do well.'
Keating is a four-time All-American Conference champion and was named 'Diver of the Year' for the last four seasons by the North East Aquatic Conference.
The Boardman senior is also a three-time State qualifier and spent most of his middle school years competing at Nationals against the best divers in the country.
Keating knows how to impress the judges. And he knows a good dive when he hits the water.
'It's a really nice feeling most of the time,' Keating said. 'Unless there's a camera underwater like they have in the Olympics, you will not see it because usually it's underwater, the celebration. And then you come up and it's like It never happened.'
Keating's journey has not been easy. Every dive has its risks, and in December of 2023, his career nearly ended.
'It was about halfway through the meet. I think it was dive 7 out of 11, and I'm not really sure how it happened. I went in the pool and I hit the dive. It went pretty well, still sixes. And then I got out of the pool and I couldn't really walk. I got out. I stood up and I just got went straight back down,' Keating said.
Keating had a stress fracture between two vertebrae in his back.
'It was kind of devastating,' added Keating.
A back injury is the worst-case scenario for divers. Keating's would require surgery with a bone graft from his hip. He still carries the scar.
The rehab required six months of physical therapy. Keating was back playing soccer in three. He healed faster than expected and was back in the pool shortly thereafter.
His first dive back, however…
'Yeah, it wasn't great,' Keating said. 'My knees actually buckled and I fell on the board. I didn't make it off the board. It was a rough start, but after that practice, it started going a lot better.'
The District Tournament is just two weeks away, and Keating wants nothing more than a fourth straight trip to State. But this season, he's hoping to finish on the podium.
'He still pushes himself,' Navarra said. 'He still knows what he needs to do. And he still knows what he wants.'
'It would mean a lot,' Keating said. 'Obviously, it'd be great to end high school on a high note. And also just being with the guys that I used to dive with, it'd be basically just like a Nationals again, being 11, and just partying on the podium.'
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