Truly elite high school athletes have trouble finding worthwhile competition. As a junior, Olathe Northwest's Clark Thomas won his third consecutive state diving title. The only suspense at the event was whether his point total would surpass the state record. (It did not.) Thomas is so dominant, it's legitimate to ask if it's even worthwhile for him to return to his high school team for his senior season. (Thomas is also a member of the Jayhawk Diving Club.) When the school year began, the Ravens' diving coach, Russ Ingold, was hopeful that Thomas would make a run at a fourth Class 6A crown. "He's a student of the sport," Ingold says. "He studies what he needs to do to get better. He's very dedicated toward it." The flexibility gene helps, too. Ingold says Thomas' parents were cheerleaders in college.
