Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Delaney O'Connor of Fort Dodge attempts a dive in the Dodger Pool earlier this season.

Delaney O’Connor thought to herself, why not?

The St. Edmond senior, who competes for the Fort Dodge Senior High swim team, loves to challenge herself. O’Connor took up diving a few years ago.

Now, she’s a state qualifier.

“I started diving honestly on a whim because I love trying new things,” O’Connor said. “It was extremely difficult at first, since I have no background in an artistic sport, but I really enjoyed the challenge of learning.”

Fast forward to her senior season in 2024, and O’Connor will be Fort Dodge’s first state diving qualifier in 26 years.

O’Connor scored 309.1 points and finished fifth in a regional competition at Waukee.

“It means a lot to me to qualify in diving,” O’Connor said. “Especially since I have limited practices due to swimming most of the week.”

The senior is the school’s first diving qualifier since Heather Lorentzen in 1998. Fort Dodge’s Jenny Twigg was a state medalist her sophomore through senior season, from 1993 to 1995.

“This year started off slow since Ashley (Beaumont, FDSH head coach) and I were trying to figure out when the best times to dive were,” O’Connor said. “I usually only dive once a week, so it was hard to get back in shape.”

O’Connor — a lifeguard at Rosedale Rapids during the summer months — is used to being around the water all year long.

“When she first said she wanted to do it, I thought it was a way to get out of practice,” Beaumont laughed. “But Delaney has pushed and worked very hard at it.

“I think she wanted to just do something new. She had no fear. She’ll go out there and do any dive.”

O’Connor has received help from Dr. Diane Happel, a swimming official.

“It ended up being worth it (to try),” O’Connor said. “I’m just so thankful for Coach Diane volunteering her time and helping out during practices, and my teammates for being supportive.”

The state diving preliminaries will be on Friday at 11 a.m. in Marshalltown. The finals will are on Saturday at noon.