Wednesday, June 21, 2000
Trostel leads local divers at Trials
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Angie Trostel lost the nerve for diving's loftiest leap, then nearly lost the will to compete.
At the Olympic Diving Trials tonight, she will likely lose again. But victory will come in closure, as Trostel caps her career the way she wanted.
The 23-year-old Oxford native, who had put off retirement to reach this meet, made the wait worthwhile Tuesday night at King County Aquatic Center by qualifying fifth for tonight's 3-meter springboard finals.
“It has definitely been worth it,” Trostel said. “I am so pleased with how this turned out.”
Trostel totaled 496.20 points and joined Cincinnati Stingray teammate Nicci Fusaro -- eighth with 474.12 points -- in surviving the cut to the 12 finalists. Fellow Stingray Kim Powers missed out, finishing 17th with 405.27 points.
Only the top two finishers make the Olympics, based on the total points from their 10 dives Tuesday and five tonight. Leaders Jenny Keim (536.55 points) and Michelle Davison (528.87) are probably out of Trostel's reach.
But Trostel (pronounced "TRO-sull') is retiring, and she is excelling in her final meet. She gives thanks for her parents and coaches talking her out of quitting two years ago.
“I wish I was hating it; it'd be easier to leave it now,” she said. “But I was up on the board thinking, "I'm going to give this up?' ”
The Talawanda High and University of Cincinnati grad had struggled this year, but she was exceedingly consistent Tuesday. She stood in fifth place after the first round and held that spot throughout.
“My goal was just to get in the finals and save the awesome dives for (today),” she said. “It's a long way (to second place), but anything can happen. I'm not giving up.”
Trostel nearly made the 1996 Olympics on 3-meter, finishing fourth at the Trials. That was the tail end of a terrific run which included four Junior National championships and a silver medal on 10-meter at the '95 Pan American Games.
The '96 Trials would mark the end of her 10-meter tenure. Struggling doing a particular dive, she lost confidence at that height.
“My mind was playing tricks on me, telling me I couldn't do it,” she said. “Once I got shaky on the one dive, I started getting shaky on everything.”
That's a common malady among 10-meter divers. Trostel had 3-meter to turn to, but when she started suffering lower finishes there, she thought of quitting.
But the Kenny family in Indian Hill -- whose daughter, Ann, is a Stingray -- took her in as a boarder after graduation so she wouldn't have to commute from Oxford. Jim Funch -- whose daughter, Jen, is a Stingray -- gave Trostel a job clerking at his lumber company.
Trostel will soon take her sociology degree to Chicago to find work and be closer to her boyfriend, Matt Primack, whom she has dated 4 1/2 years. She anticipates staying in her sport through coaching or judging, though she said it will be tough leaving Stingrays coach Charlie Casuto, who has instructed her for 13 years.
“I see all the old-timers come in and give him a hug and watch practice,” she said. “That's going to be me someday, with my kids! We've been joking about it.”
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