NAME: Scott Hodgson
SPORT: Diving
HOMETOWN: Anchorage, Alaska
HIGH SCHOOL: South Anchorage High School
MAJOR:Exercise Science and Biology
DIVING BACKGROUND: I started in high school. I was a washed-up gymnast and some of my old gymnastic buddies were trying new sports and they coerced me into it. I haven’t looked back since.
PRE-GAME RITUAL: I meditate and visualize my dives, focusing on the best ones I have ever done and how they felt.
PUMP-UP SONG: “Bangers” (rap and hip hop music)
FAVORITE MOVIE: Any movie directed by Judd Apatow
FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE: Bode Miller (alpine skier)
FAVORITE SPORT OTHER THAN DIVING: Baseball
RANDOM FACT: In fifth grade I was walking through a path in the snow and ran straight into a moose eating some shrubs.
FAVORITE BOOK: “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
PLANS AFTER ST. OLAF: Take a gap year and apply to med school. I want to be involved in sports medicine.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT AS AN OLE ATHLETE: Winning the 1m at conference, standing on the podium and leading my team and St. Olaf fans in the fight song.
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: The biggest difference is coaching. My coaches in Alaska focused on new dives while my St. Olaf coaches focus on perfecting our dives, but we goof around more.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE RECIEVED: “Whatever you do go 120%, that way if you smack flat on the water, at least you’re tougher than it.”
GOALS FOR REST OF THE SEASON: I want to get to nationals. I’ve been runner up at regionals the past three years. I want to make it to the next level.
