Men's Swimming and Diving: Dickerson stands out for skill and style

“There was only one other black diver competing,” Dickerson explained, starting to laugh. “But the order got mixed up, and I went up in his place, and I dove. Nobody noticed until the second round.”

Dickerson has carried this sense of humor with him to Princeton and is best known for his notable personality, though his status as a talented diver is uncontested.

At the Big Al Open last weekend, Dickerson led all Princeton divers with top-eight finishes in the one- and three-meter events. The No. 23 Tigers finished second behind No. 6 Florida in the competition.

But characteristic of Dickerson’s relaxed demeanor, instead of getting hyped up about his performance, he simply shrugs it off and credits his teammates with helping him achieve his goals.

“My season has been good as a result of [how] amazing our swimmers are doing this year,” Dickerson said. “That makes me want to make a difference.”

His impact goes beyond the points he puts up for the Tigers at meets, though. Dickerson’s teammates noted that he is a natural motivator and that he is dedicated to the swimming and diving team. Dickerson attends every meet, even when he’s not participating, cheering for Princeton from the side of the pool.

“[Dickerson] is endlessly positive, talkative and outgoing,” senior swimmer John LaMonaca said. “He is constantly loud for his teammates, no matter who they are. He is enthusiastic for every single member of the team, swimmer or diver, girl or boy.”

While he is quite vocal in the stands at DeNunzio, his wardrobe may be even louder: He dresses in a distinctive style that stands out among his teammates.

“He wears bright red and orange clothes, even when we have parties that require dressing up,” LaMonaca said.

Junior swimmer AJ Kennedy, who lives with Dickerson, also commented on his roommate’s unique wardrobe.

“He has the big half of the closet,” Kennedy said. “And corduroy duck pants.”

A great personality, however, won’t make you a great diver. Dickerson began his career at age 14, when he quit swimming and started diving for a club team. But it wasn’t until high school that he really started to make a name for himself.

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At St. Christopher’s in Richmond, Va., where he was co-captain of his diving squad, Dickerson was a three time All-American and won four state diving titles.

While the transition from high school to college was not easy, Dickerson noted that elements of high school diving enabled him to prepare for the time commitment and rigorous demands of the collegiate level.

“In high school, I drove 260 miles round trip, four times a week, because I practiced in D.C., and I was from Richmond,” Dickerson said. “So time wise, it wasn’t a big transition. But coming to a school like this and trying to balance sports and other things always makes [the transition] difficult.”

Dickerson spent his freshman and sophomore seasons learning the ins and outs of collegiate diving, and he has emerged in his junior season as a solid member of the squad who doesn’t crack under pressure.

He kicked off this season placing first in the one-meter event at the Rutgers Invitational. He added to his accolades in Princeton’s Ivy League opener, taking first in the three-meter and second in the one-meter event.

One reason Dickerson thinks he has had more success this season than in prior ones is because of the weight training he started this season with assistant varsity strength coach Tina VanDerMeiren.

“We all started a weight program, and I have never lifted before, so my strength has increased dramatically,” Dickerson said.

In addition to the weight training, Dickerson has developed a pre-meet ritual that has turned into a winning formula.

“I always have my iPod,” Dickerson said. “And [it only plays] Lil Wayne before I go.”

Dickerson, though, does not attribute his accomplishments on the diving board to his music selection, his increased strength training or even his teammates.

Instead, he credits his mother as the single driving force behind his achievements.

“My mom was a single parent when I was growing up, and she is an absolute pillar of strength for me,” Dickerson said. “She raised me from a boy to a man. She’s the reason I’m even here right now.”

So whether he’s joking with friends at Cloister Inn, cheering his teammates on from the stands in bright orange clothes or celebrating his successful season, it is safe to say that Dickerson — unless he’s coming off a diving board — is making a splash at DeNunzio.