The Indianapolis Regional Training Center, the IRTC, opened its doors in 1998 under the instruction of Head Coach John Wingfield.  Beginning the program with 6 former “Winger’s Springers” divers from Wingfield’s former Ball State program, the vision of the training center hit the ground running.  The training center concept, developed and supported by United States Diving Technical Director and Eight-Time Olympic Diving Coach, Dr. Ron O’Brien, was created to benefit up to 18 Olympic-bound divers.  The IRTC roster would consist of 6 developmental Junior athletes identified as possessing world class potential in the sport of diving, 6 elite Junior athletes who have already shown high levels of their potential in diving, and 6 Senior level elite athletes who have Olympic stardom on their competitive agenda. 

           

In the first three years of action, the IRTC has led five individuals to National Championship performances in United States Diving, two of these individuals have attained a championship multiple times in various events.  Also, the Indy organization has produced multiple medallists in international competition, a Gold medallist and a Bronze medallist at the World Junior Championships, a 17-year-old Olympic Trial Finalist, and a Senior National Synchronized Diving Champion.

 

The Starz Diving Club also began operations in Indianapolis in 1998.  The “Starz,” operating solely at the IUPUI headquarters of the IRTC until the fall of 2000, soon opened up off-campus satellite programs that now train divers at more than 20 locations in the State of Indiana – each team with an year-round satellite head coach.  The satellite teams of the Starz compete against each other throughout the year.  Additionally, qualified individuals from the satellites also compete as a member of a unified “All Starz” team at traveling USD invitationals and national qualifying meets. 

 

In the early operating years of the Starz Satellite System, the organization had more than doubled the number of divers in the State of Indiana with over 500 active participants.  Constituting the largest diving organization in the United States, a sincere force of diving influence was born in Indiana and a pipeline to the Olympics has been forged in the fires of youthful dreams.

 

As of January, 2005, Indianapolis had been named the National Training Center for United States Diving.    With more than 20 satellite programs in action, the Starz Diving Club has become the center of diving resources and developmental focus for the nation.  This torch we carry with pride and resolution as we look forward to the continued success of the program.