Junior Rob Penwell has had a tremendous diving career at Fairfield University and he isn’t done yet.
This year, Penwell has already set the stage for the dive team.
Through four meets he has either placed first, second or third in every diving event he has taken part in.
After the dive team lost two seniors, captain Peter Loverme and Jake Kravitz last year, Penwell has stepped up and shown he can perform at every meet for the Stags.
This year Penwell has been a crucial component to the men’s diving team as they try to keep the dominance they had in the past.
His diving career began when he was twelve. Only diving during the summer, he looked for clubs or leagues to join.
Although his high school did not have a dive team he continued to dive for a club team until college.
He was recruited by Fairfield to dive and had a great impact his freshman year.
In the MAAC Championship he placed sixth in the one-meter dive and ninth in the three-meter dive.
Penwell exceeded his own expectations in his first Division I diving season.
“I was able to hold my own even as a freshman, but I think I still outperformed how well I thought I was going to do,” said Penwell.
His sophomore year was nothing short of magnificent. At the MAACs he placed fourth on the one-meter board.
He placed second in each diving event at three different meets. He took second place in both the one-meter and three-meter dives at Niagara/Canisius, St. Francis and Holy Cross.
This year he has dominated the one-meter board.
Penwell finished first against Niagara, Loyola and Iona on the one-meter.
He also finished first on the three-meter board versus Loyola, and second against Niagara and Iona.
Not only has he continued to place at the MAAC Championships, but he is also completing dives that haven’t been attempted in years. He has proven to be a very versatile athlete.
“Last year, as a sophomore, Rob was performing some of the most difficult dives being performed in the MAAC conference,” said diving coach Dan Vener.
While Penwell may be a top performer for his team, his teammates also look upon him as a leader in the pool. As the only recruited men’s diver, he is a teacher to the underclassmen.
“Rob is an integral part of the men’s diving team, not only for the points that he scores, but also for his ability to mentor the younger divers,” said Vener.
Diving has had a great impact on his life and what he is trying to accomplish as a student-athlete.
“Its [diving] a big structure builder, both in school and life makes it easier to lay things out and see what has to be done,” said Penwell.
The sky is the limit for Penwell as he still has until February for the MAAC championships and another full year after that.
“Rob is determined to succeed as a diver for both Fairfield and for himself,” said Vener.
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