This article won an honorable mention in the 2023 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
When the exchange students come to the high school, they experience many new activities. Some go to cool places, some join different clubs, and some like French Solveig Prodhomme try new sports.
After moving from France to America for the school year, Prodhomme became a part of the girls dive team. Dive is not very common in France, so she has no previous experience. However, she was able to learn quickly and has even managed to come first at multiple meets, the latest being the school’s senior night on October 18.
Prodhomme joined after being pushed to participate by her host sister, senior and swim team captain Evan Arnold. Having previously done gymnastics, Prodhomme felt that diving would be enjoyable.
“I did [gymnastics] for ten years, so I never tried anything else,” Prodhomme said. “My host family said ‘maybe you could try diving,’ and that’s why I started.”
Arnold has no regrets about convincing her house sister to dive. She knew that Prodhomme would easily adapt to the team because of her personality and outlook on the sport.
“I knew that she would love it and the people would love her,” Arnold said. “Solveig is very outgoing and super nice, so she just fits in really well. She just completely went all into it.”
According to Arnold, Prodhomme is a great addition to the team because of her attitude while learning difficult dives.
“She’s a really hard worker, and she’s always eager to try new skills,” Arnold said. “And she’s up for a challenge. She just wants to do everything she can.”
Dive coach Kurt Mirandette has taken on lots of new divers in his 49 years of coaching, so he was not worried about Prodhomme’s ability to learn. He values her perseverance towards the sport.
“[I appreciate] her willingness to try anything, her good attitude and enthusiasm. She always has a smile,” Mirandette said. “She has a great work ethic, very excellent.”
While Mirandette wasn’t concerned about her as a diver, no one could have predicted just how successful she would become. As swim and dive approaches the end of the season, Prodhomme was able to learn and complete all 11 dives. She also was among the top two divers on the team, neck-and-neck with junior Ava Rapolevich.
“I am really grateful for everything,” Prodhomme said. “It just feels good when I am able to learn new things and I can do new dives at the meet.”
Prodhomme’s favorite part of the experience is the team dynamic and how helpful the other athletes are.
“I really like that everyone is always supportive of everyone and always so nice, and if you’re scared everyone will say ‘oh don’t worry you got it,’” Prodhomme said.
Arnold believes that being on the team was a rewarding experience not just for Prodhomme, but for the rest of the team as well.
“She adds a lot of positivity to both the swim and the dive team,” Arnold said. “It’s nice to have more exchange students on the team so we can learn more about each other, especially being from different parts of the world.”
Prodhomme is completing one of her dives. This is during the senior night meet on October 18. Video courtesy of Prodhomme.
