Boys Swimming: Nicolas Milovanovic dives into action at state

Two years ago, Nicolas Milovanovic sat along the pool deck to watch then-teammate Jordan Dyson make state-meet history for Hinsdale South.

In 2012, Milovanovic was just happy to be on the same diving boards where Dyson won Hinsdale South’s first state championship in diving. Dyson, the best diver in school history finished third in 2009, third in 2008 and second in ’07.

Milovanovic ended his Hornets career in the state-meet preliminaries — at Evanston — by placing 34th (153.75 points) among 48 competitors. Milovanovic reached the state meet by receiving an at-large bid during sectionals.

“I’ve been going to the state meet since I was a sophomore to watch Jordan Dyson,” Milovanovic said. “Last year, I missed State by seven points.”

After watching Dyson perform, one of Milovanovic’s biggest goals was to reach the state meet. His best dive on Friday was a front 2 1/2 somersault, but Milovanovic couldn’t reach the top 16 to make the next round. New Trier senior Jordan Sacks won the diving competition, becoming the second Trevians diver to win a state title since Michael Ross did it in 2009.

Milovanovic works out with Dyson in the offseason. Milovanovic said Dyson was an instructor over the summer at Five Seasons in Burr Ridge. Dyson quit diving, but still attends the University of Southern California.

“Watching Jordan was always an inspiration to me,” Milovanovic said. “I always wanted to do as good as him. In my sophomore year, I told myself that in two years I’ll be here.”

Milovanovic, who fashioned a three-year varsity career as a diver, will now take the water as a goalie for Hinsdale South’s boys water polo team. The Hornets — under new coach Beth Walker — open the ’12 season at Homewood-Flossmoor on March 6.

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