A back handstand double somersault with a twist, a front two and a half pike and an inward two and a half pike. These words appear to be a move combination a gymnast would use but they are not. They make up the dives sophomore diver R.J. Hesselberg will use to compete in Austin at the NCAA Sectional D Diving Meet this weekend.

Hesselberg, who competed in the competition last year, said he feels good about the meet especially after competing in the Mountain West Conference Championships last week.

“I’m not worried about beating anyone,” Hesselberg said.

Hesselberg is not new to this level of competition having participated in the Sectional Diving meet last year and finishing top-10 in three events. He said he gained experience from last year’s competition and will use it this weekend.

“I just learned to relax,” Hesselberg said. “I’m focusing more during practice and not playing around as much.”

Diving coach Wayne Chester said he thinks Hesselberg has a good chance on the three-meter springboard even though his platform diving is the best. He also said he thinks Hesselberg’s greatest strength is the degree of difficulty in his dives.

“Sometimes judges would rather see a harder dive that might not have been landed as well, rather than an easier dive landed perfectly,” Chester said.

The only disadvantage presented to Hesselberg might be limited practice facilities. The platform board at TCU is only 7.5 meters tall while the platform board at the sectional meet is 10 meters tall.

Chester said Hesselberg should not have a problem going back to his degree of difficulty. He said Hesselberg will be performing a dive that scores a 3.5 out of 4 for the degree of difficulty.

Hesselberg said he feels his greatest strength is being fearless.

“I’m not afraid to get hurt and that scares the coaches sometimes,” Hesselberg said. “But I can put everything into my dives.”

Before he makes his first dive into the pool Friday, Hesselberg said he will put in some practice time to get adjusted to the diving boards before the meet begins. He also said he has a particular way he prepares before diving.

“I listen to my CD player and try to forget about the competition,” Hesselberg said. “Then I go over the dives in my head.”

He said he will usually do lead ups, which is the walking approach to perform the dive, on the lower boards before making the dive.

Hesselberg said he, like most divers, hopes to advance to the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn, in late March.

“It’d take a lot of stress off of me for next year,” he said.