Shaye DiMatteo
Gig Harbor High School
A freshman at Gig Harbor High School, 14-year-old Shaye DiMatteo is a dedicated student and athlete. She has been on the honor roll through middle school and continues that in her first year of high school. And when it comes to diving, Shaye’s commitment has already paid off, showing promise for an amazing career ahead of her.
“I was previously a gymnast, which helped me transition to dive,” says Shaye, who in her first year of diving in the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association), placed fourth overall at the Division 3A State Finals.
2018 was the first year Shaye took part in the USA Diving competitions, and she finished strong, placing in the top 15 for the 14-to-15-year age group in the platform event at the Zone E Championship—a national qualifier championship composed of 12 states from the Northwest and Midwest regions.
With a lot of time to still decide on post-high school plans, Shaye is certain she would like to continue to dive in college. But as she pursues her athletics, she says she is primarily focused on academics. “My only plan for the time being is to continue working hard on my studies,” she says.
There are a few areas of study that interest her, including serving in the United States Air Force or pursuing a career in the medical field. “These potential careers interest me because I love helping people and making a difference in the world,” she says.
Shaye shares that one of the biggest challenges she continues to face in diving is overcoming the mental blocks. “They are difficult to break,” she says. “But once I realized that my coach won’t let me do anything that could potentially harm me, they have become much easier to overcome.”
When it comes to diving, Shaye says she enjoys the relationships she builds with her teammates and other divers. “My team is like a family to me.”
At just 14 years of age, Shaye has already learned an important life lesson that will help her have continued success on her journey through life.
“I’ve learned throughout my athletic career that to go far in anything—sports, school, social life—you need to be willing to put in all of your effort.”