Just last year, Hoopes began diving, roughly a month and a half before districts. “Truthfully someone found out that I had a diving board at my house, and they told Mr. P, who was convinced I could dive,” said Hoopes, a sophomore. “But it’s cool and I like it.”

Being the lone diver on the school’s swim and dive team, Hoopes goes to practice alone at Berkeley Prep, where he and other various divers practice.Support is never lacking though and Duncan Hoopes, a senior and Luke’s older brother, drives him every day to practice.

In his first year as a freshmen, Hoopes placed fourth at districts. It takes a finish of third or better to qualify for regionals.

This season, Hoopes hopes to make it to states. “It’s something I expect to do,” he said. However, more goes into diving than just jumping off a board. “There’s lots of stretching [and] soon there will be lots of weight training.”

And all the hard work has paid off as Hoopes started the season off on a great note during the teams’ first meet on Sept. 2. “I feel great,” he said. “I won first and gave the team six points.”Overall he was awarded 137.70 points in his routine.

Even though Luke is just one man, last year, senior Mark Hong, was almost on the team as well, but did not get ready in time. Now a member of the swim team, Hoopes explains that he is his go to man for questions. “I know what to look for in a dive,” said Hong.

Hong is another believer in Hoopes’ cause.“He’s gotten so much better,” Hong explains. “As long as he keeps up with the training, then he’ll be able to make it to states.”