MILWAUKEE (WITI) — As gifted as she is, Whitnall High School’s Rachel Stave may have been on her way to an unparalleled career in gymnastics. Suddenly, that career took a dive — literally!
With a nudge from her mother, Stave decided to switch to diving. In this case, mom knew best because Stave has rewritten all the state diving record books.
Last November, the high-flying Falcons senior won her third state Division 2 title. Only three divers in Wisconsin high school history can make that claim.
Stave says she actually uses fear to her advantage as a diver, and has been getting better since she first came to the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center as a seventh-grader.
Stave plans to dive at the University of Wisconsin. The in-state school got the nod over Iowa in large part because she will join her older brothers Brian and Joel there as students.
Joel Stave was the Badgers starter at quarterback before he suffered a broken collarbone against Michigan State last October.
Rachel Stave also competed in track and field. As a sophomore, she finished second in the state in the triple jump event.
