Community Sports

‘Jumping Jane’ Jackman’s state title could be first of many accolades

The Gig Harbor Tides girls swimming and diving team has a new state diving champion.

Jane Jackman made a big splash on the big stage, winning the Class 3A diving state title as a freshman. Her total of 345.05 points won a championship on Nov. 15 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Tides swimming coach Mike Kelly nicknamed her Jumping Jane, and she took a jump up the leaderboard at state.

Final dive

Jackman earned her victory with her final three dives. Before them, she had a 17-point lead over Inglemoor senior Lillian Berrios.

Berrios pulled to within four points on the next two dives, setting up a final attempt for the title.

Jackman approached the one-meter board and raised her hands to signal to the judges that she was ready. The packed arena was silent, but Jackman appeared amazingly calm, especially for a ninth grader in her first state championship event.

Jane Jackman of Gig Harbor during a meet earlier this season. Photo by Mike Kelly

During that moment of solitude , Jackman reminded herself of a quote that has stuck with her over the years: “The victors of the battle have won long before the battle has taken place, whereas the losers of the battle go into battle, seeking to win,” a quote attributed to Sun Tzu.

“I visualized success and I knew that I had put in the work during training and there was nothing to worry about,” Jackman said. “I just wanted to do my very best.”

Jackman’s self talk paid off. She executed a back-flipping, one-and-a-half tuck maneuver before ripping the entry and smoothly emerging from the water with a smile and a state championship.

The judges confirmed the outcome moments later as Jackman secured a 14-point margin over Berrios.

Family affair

Jane’s father, Gary Jackman, admitted to not being nearly as cool as his daughter was.

“It was so stressful watching her on that last dive, wow… but for us it turned out to be a great outcome,” he said.

Jackman started diving at a Seattle swim club in the second grade and has consistently turned heads with her abilities since then. With parents Gary and Erika and younger swimming sisters Ann Marie and Tess, the Jackmans have crossed the country often to support Jane.

Gig Harbor teacher and diving coach Alyse Yeaman provided mentorship for Jackman this year.

Yeaman also has worked with Peninsula divers and helped Zachary Ruckle to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Class 3A boys state diving championships.

“Coach Yeaman is like a real-life Barbie, she is so nice, so positive and gives me just the right feedback that made me so much better this season,” Jackman said.

Gig Harbor High School state champion Jane Jackman, right, and diving coach Alyse Yeaman. Photo by Mike Kelly

Jackman also worked with former United States Olympic diving coach John Wingfield last summer at his diving academy in Indiana. She plans to do that again this offseason.

Thinking ahead

Jackman has a goal of doing this a few more times.

“I would definitely love to be a four-time state champion but the only thing that will get me there is hard work and dedication,” she said. “I don’t pray for the downfall of my competitors but I would rather always have good competition. Even if I don’t win it next year, that would only be motivating and let me know what I need to work on next in my diving career.”

Jackman says the University of Texas is her dream school. She would love to follow former Tide swimmer Aiden Hammer to Austin.

Jackman already has her eye on the 2028 or 2032 U.S. Olympic team. She knows that’s a long way in the future, but the fact that she’s already working with national-level coaches speaks to Jackman’s talent.

“Diving is a very big aspect of my life, but not the whole aspect of my life,” she said. “Even though the Olympics and Team USA sound great, I have many goals in life and have an open mindset to more things in life than just diving.”

Tides seventh as a team

Jackman’s state title supplied the Tides with 20 of their 121 team points. They placed seventh at state, after a sixth-place finish in 2024.

Kaitlyn LaTendresse placed fifth in the 200 freestyle. She seemed to cramp in the final 100 meters. Kelly highlighted her toughness to continue on and still finish fifth.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Hannah Bevans, Jenna Nelson, Eva Dahlin and LaTendresse touched in 1:41.37, good for sixth. Kelly singled out Bevans’ leadoff leg in 25.96 as a key reason for the Tides’ success.

Ten minutes later, LaTendresse returned to the pool for the 100 meter breaststroke, a tough double without much time for recovery. LaTendresse finished fifth in 58.08.

Finally, the same quartet entered the pool for the 400 freestyle relay. They cut 3.36 seconds from their preliminary time to finish sixth in 3:42.03.

The Gig Harbor 200 freestyle relay team of Hannah Bevans, Jenna Nelson, Eva Dahlin and Kaitlyn LaTendresse after finishing sixth at state. Photo by Mike Kelly

Peninsula ninth

The young Peninsula Seahawks had one of their best finishes at the state tournament in years, placing ninth.

Junior Lee Gjertson placed ninth in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the 50 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Gjertson, Sophia Evers, Boe Ballard and Reese Miller placed ninth in the 200 freestyle relay, breaking a 20-year Peninsula record with a time of 1:42.15.

The same foursome placed seventh in the 400 freestyle in 3:47.45.

The Peninsula relay team of Sophia Evers, Lee Gjertson, Boe Ballard and Reese Miller after placing seventh in the state finals. Photo by Mike Kelly