Roffel signs at Bowling Green to continue her diving career

Ava Roffel, a 17-year-old from Chatham, is a Grade 12 student at Chatham Christian High School and has been a dedicated member of the Windsor Diving Club since 2021.

Roffel has officially signed with Bowling Green State University in Ohio, to continue her academic studies and diving career.

Ava began gymnastics at the age of four and competed with the Blenheim Kent Golden Eagles until 2023. In 2021, she and her sister joined the Learn to Dive program at Windsor Diving, training once a week. By 2023, Ava was balancing both sports, training three days a week in gymnastics and three days in diving while successfully competing in each. The following season, she retired from gymnastics to focus solely on diving.

At the Aspire Diving Championships this past season, Ava placed first in 3m springboard, first in platform, and third in 1m springboard. She was named to Team Aspire Ontario and received the Outstanding Aspire A Diver award. She is coached by Ioana Voicu Marinescu, who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Roffel said her gymnastics background allowed her to learn body awareness, flipping, and being in the air.

“So gymnastics collates to diving quite easily. When I tried diving, it was a new fun challenge, like it involves some similarities to gymnastics but in a new environment. I fell in love with the diving and just enjoyed the challenge of it,” she said.

Bowling Green has a Division 1 women’s swimming and diving program, and competes in the Mid-American Conference.

Roffel said she chose Bowling Green because of the supportive coaching staff, and the close-knit team culture.

“It felt like one happy family. During my visits and conversations, I felt genuinely valued, and I knew it was a place where I could grow as both an athlete and a person.”