JACKSONVILLE - Area diving coach Melissa Moses has a pretty good resume about her when it comes to making ex-gymnasts into state divers.

"The big transition from gymnastics to diving is the slower jump and release into the routine," said Moses, a former Orange Park High School diving state champion first, then a U.S. Olympic diver with a fourth place finish at the Atlanta Olympics. "The gymnastics floor is very responsive up and down and a hard takeoff point. The diving board is a slow dip then a gradual springboard upward before releasing into the routine."

Two proteges under Moses wing these days are freshmen Arden Jackson from Ridgeview High and Jillian LeBelle of Fleming Island High, both competing at the region championships this week with Jackson earning a state meet ticket and a seventh place ranking statewide in Class 2A. LaBelle, fifth in the district 2-3A championships with a 314.40 point total, competed in her region 1-3A diving championships on Mon., Nov. 4 will learn of her place after all the regions of Class 3A are complete.

For Jackson, a 351.00 score got her a second in the district 3-2A championships to Bishop Kenny's Tayler Graham's 413.50. At her region 1-2A championship meet, Jackson upped her stock with a second place finish at 401.70 again to Graham who scored the title at 434.85.

"I don't think about the other girls I am diving against because I don't know any of them," said Jackson, at a statuesque 4'-11" and with a Level 9 gymnastics rating at her best. "Last year, around November, I started diving. Knowing where you are in the air is one thing I take from gymnastics."

Jackson's choice of diving is the injury potential reduction factor.

"Gymnastics has a lot of torque and a hard landing surface," said Jackson. "Most of the divers ask if I am really a freshman which I think is a good thing."

For Labelle, the diving was just a whim.

"I'm not one to shy from trying new stuff," said Labelle.

Moses cited Jackson's high intellect as a critical part of her quick ascent.

"She is in a super hard academic curriculum and she is so smart," said Moses. "She listens very intently and processes the improvement very quickly. Jillian has literally just started diving and was doing cross country and lacrosse before taking up diving. She's just a great athlete."