Fearlessly, Cassie Weil does a hand-stand atop a 33-foot platform. She makes falling look aesthetic as she flips and twists, a small splash is the only indication that she has reached the water.
As a 9-year-old, Weil was asked by her parents if she’d rather play basketball or dive.
She chose diving because she loved the water. Little did Weil know that her decision for the pool would eventually turn into her way of life.
The 2013 Southeastern Conference Freshman Diver of the Year competed in the AT&T USA National Diving Championships in August, an event she dove in prior to coming to LSU in 2011.
Weil has aimed for the 300 mark in the 10-meter dive since last year. After two sub-300 point scores in the first two rounds of the AT&T Championships, Weil scored 333.70 in the women’s 10-meter platform final, good for third overall.
Her score and place finish that day were career highs, but Weil said the moment itself was surreal.
“I don’t even remember how it happened, like, I didn’t even feel like I was doing it,” Weil said. “It just happened and it was the most exciting thing because I finally put all my dives together.”
Weil’s platform score at the meet set an LSU school record, adding to her previous record-breaking performances as a freshman when she set The Lady Tiger’s three-meter record (372.68) in her first career collegiate dual meet.
Weil’s ability to come in as a freshman and break records is unmatched. This season, Weil said the new, younger divers will push her to perform even better as she constantly strives to beat everybody.
Nevertheless, Weil said practice wouldn’t be the same without the camaraderie of her teammates. She said the environment and energy put off by the team is motivating, but diving coach Doug Shaffer said Weil’s competitive spirit is always present in the LSU Natatorium.
“She’s a definite leader by example but I don’t think there’s anybody with as good of work ethic as Cassie on the team,” Shaffer said. “She always wants to do a little more … and when she comes in it’s business. She’s really maximizing her time everyday in the pool.”
The Hillsboro, Oregon native was a part of a top recruiting class when she signed with the Lady Tigers in 2011. But it isn’t hard to be convinced to attend LSU by Shaffer — the 2008 SEC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year. In his 12-year tenure with LSU, Shaffer has produced 14 NCAA All-Americans and two SEC Champions.
Through he’s seen many divers in his 25-year career, Shaffer said there’s something special about Weil and her performance last month is significant toward what is to come of her future.
“She ranks up there with some of the top divers that I’ve ever been fortunate enough to coach.” Shaffer said. “She scored 333 [at the U.S. Nationals] and was third in the nation. Cassie looks at things [and says], ‘Well what do you have to do to be first in the nation?’ It surely laid a tremendous foundation for her future.”
At just 5-foot-4, it’s fitting that Weil chose diving instead of basketball. But even with a small frame, when it comes to her passion to be the very best in the sport of diving, Shaffer described Weil in one word:
“Tenacious.”
Sophomore diver and pre-business administration student Cassie Weil holds the University record in the three-meter dive.
