UW sophomore Karla Contreras, diver for the Cowgirls swimming and diving team, scored a season best of 332.8 points on the three-meter diving competition Thursday, Oct. 26. In relation to the next best diver at that meet scoring 229.95 points.
This feat came after placing first in every dual meet she competed in this year.
Contreras scored this season high the week she was named the Mountain West Conference Diver of the Week, a title given to the best diver out of all schools in the conference for a given week.
Honors like this are nothing new for Contreras as she earned the title of being an all Mountain West diver in all three diving events last season as well as winning the title of the Mountain West Diver of the Week on the week of Dec. 12, 2016.
“It was really exciting, I liked it!” Contreras exclaimed.
Contreras, born in Jalisco, Mexico, moved to Tijuana, Mexico at the age of two, started to dive at the age of nine. She contributes a large portion of her success to how competitive the sport of diving is in Mexico.
“Diving in Mexico is really good,” Contreras said.
Contreras chose to attend the University of Wyoming after receiving a scholarship.
“I wanted to help to change my life and also wanted to help my parents.” Contreras said.
Contreras is also a big fan of the nature in Wyoming and when she is not doing flips from several meters in the air, she enjoys hiking at Vedauwoo and having campfires.
Just recently declaring her major, Contreras also gets it done in the classroom as she is studying rigorously to become a chemical engineer. She received the highest score in her section of calculus on the last exam scoring a 97 percent.
“I just declared my major, I’m a chemical engineer,” Contreras said.
When asked about her performance this year as a diver Contreras modestly said she was satisfied, but when asked about how the team was doing she was overjoyed to talk of their recent success, with the men’s and women’s swimming and diving team both beating Air Force Saturday, Oct. 28.
“We’ve been doing great, I think better than last season,” Contreras said.
She aspires to one day be an Olympic diver, but knows that she has her work cut out for her as her home country of Mexico consistently finishes within the top five at international diving competitions.
“I am doing good, I am comfortable,” Contreras said. “I love it.”
Unfortunately the Cowboy Swimming and Diving Team does not have another home meet this semester, but be sure to keep an eye out for highlights from the University of Wyoming’s very own Mountain West Diver of the Week, Karla Contreras.
