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Next Generation Diving, which also practices at Yale University in New Haven, will also train at Canterbury School. When the Norwalk Y closed, coaches Jeanine Oburchay and Chris Bergere found short-term availability at Weston High School for their divers. The change to Canterbury is permanent. The team will also change its name to Dive Haven.
“We looked around, but there is not a lot of availability of pools, especially with two diving boards,’’ Oburchay said. “I’d love to have one right near Norwalk or Fairfield, but we have great relationships with the people at Canterbury.”
The name change and move to New Milford also reflects the team’s growing base, Oburchay said. “When we first started we were Norwalk, Westport, Weston and Fairfield,’’ she said. “Now we’re drawing from everywhere, in Fairfield County, New Haven County and Litchfield County.”
The group will host a clinic for all levels of divers from Aug. 5-9 from 9-11:30 a.m. Children ages 6-18 are eligible. Beginning divers will be taught fundamentals while more experienced divers can hone their skills under the direction of Oburchay, the diving coach for the Weston High girls and Fairfield Prep teams, and Bergere, the head coach at Yale.
Oburchay said the new name also better reflects the mission of the team, which is to encourage participation in the sport for all levels of athletes.
“We want it be a haven for all levels of divers,’’ Oburchay said. “Some divers want to enjoy the sport and compete a little bit. We’ve got some great divers, but we also have the divers that do it just for the enjoyment of the sport.”
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