Junior Jackson Monus won his third consecutive state title Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the State Swimming and Diving Championship.
Monus captured the Division II title with a final score of 549.15, which was over 100 points higher than the second place finisher.
In the first two rounds, he set the tone by doing two of his three hardest dives, starting with an inward 2½ and a front 3½, allowing him to take control of the meet early.
His final dive was a reverse 2½ which he saved for last in case he needed to hit big and ensure a first place finish.
“I felt really good after doing them,” he said. “Even if they weren’t my best dives, no one else was doing dives like them, so the judges would be more generous with my scores.”
Monus said his championship was the result of years of attention to small elements of diving which often go unnoticed.
“My hard work helped me achieve my goals,” he said. “There’s a lot of parts to diving that a lot of people don’t know about–the small details, your flexibility and strength being different from a lot of other sports. Working on the smaller things, you can see big changes over time.”
The state meet presents a unique challenge, Monus said. Unlike regular meets, he explained, the final rounds can last up to six hours, demanding both physical and mental endurance.
“States are different,” he said. “The day before is straight rest and hydration is the only thing I think about. It feels like the longest day of my life.”
Monus said his championship came after adversity. Earlier this year, he tore his tricep and was sidelined for months, he explained.
After physical therapy, Monus returned to diving in late September.
Monus added he moved to Florida last summer to focus on his training. He explained he takes online classes through the high school to remain eligible for school competition.
“The change helped me reset mentally and focus on growth,” he said.
Monus said diving has strengthened his mental toughness.
“Diving is a big mental game, a lot like golf,” he said. “Every time I compete, I grow.”
Despite the milestone, Monus said he is not satisfied.
“I need to win four,” he said. “Three is an odd number that doesn’t sit right with me.”
Published and digitized March 2026.
