Boys Swimming: Hinsdale South’s Riley Maher dives into multi-tasking

Updated: December 6, 2011 6:46PM

When Hinsdale South’s football team failed to make the playoffs with a 5-4 record this season, Riley Maher ended up having more time to prepare for his next sport.

Maher is a three-sport senior athlete, but you can bet the school doesn’t have another three-sport athlete involved in such a wide variety of sports. Maher plays football, dives with the swimming team and competes in gymnastics.

His diving career is an extension of his offseason job at the Darien Swim and Racquet Club. Maher has been a lifeguard since his freshman year.

“Over the summer, I have football camp every day,” Maher said. “Diving comes with my job as a lifeguard.”

Maher played every football game in the fall as an undersized 5-foot-9, 155-pound outside linebacker. Maher’s size is ideal for a diver and a gymnast, but as a football player? Maher had to play with a bulldog mentality alongside his all-West Suburban Gold teammate Zach Hynek, a 6-2, 200-pound senior.

Now Maher has turned his attention to diving, which first blossomed when he was a kid, as his father, John, suggested different dives for Maher to perform. Maher said the only former competitive diver in the family is his uncle, Pete.

“I’ll be diving (this season) with Nick Milovanovic,” Maher said. “We hope to go to State this year, which would be perfect in our senior years.”

The Hornets are two years away from the State championship season enjoyed by former star Jordan Dyson, who remains an inspiration to succeeding divers, such as Maher and Milovanovic. One of Maher’s goals this season is to gain higher points for completing one of Dyson’s favorite dives, a forward double twisting 1 1/2.

“(Dyson) comes back to visit once every year,” Maher said.

Maher will be looking for his first varsity letter in diving this season. He already has two letters each in football and gymnastics, but competed at the JV diving level last season. Maher said he was the only diver to compete at the JV conference meet last season.

“Since my freshman year, my goal was to be a three-sport athlete for all four years,” Maher said. “I’m very busy with camps, and I have to skip weekends with my friends. I feel like over the years, I have given it my all, and I’m less worried about what I missed.”

The Hornets open the season by hosting Oswego East in a dual meet at 5 p.m. Thursday. Hinsdale South won’t compete in a major meet until the Bloomington Invitational on Dec. 17.

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