About the Trainer

WINGS DIVING

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KARLA HELDER - HEAD COACH
Email - ICADIVER@AOL.COM

Karla Helder is in her fourth season as the men’s and women’s diving coach at the University at Buffalo and has helped the Bulls produce notable accomplishments in the diving program.

While at UB, Helder has been instrumental in developing a strong diving program that featured new school records for both the men’s and women’s teams. In her previous three seasons, she has coached an ECAC men’s champion and two All-Mid-American Conference divers and six regional qualifiers.

A two-time NCAA Division II National Diving Coach of the Year, Helder came to Buffalo after nine seasons at the University of California at Davis, where Helder coached four national champions to four separate titles and 36 All-Americans. She was named PCSC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2003 and she also earned the conference’s Women’s Diving Coach of the Year award in 2001.

Helder has earned 30 national diving titles herself and while diving at the U.S. Master’s Nationals in 2004, set a new one-meter American record. In March 2003, Helder set a World FINA record on three-meter and captured gold in one-meter event as well.

In addition to UC-Davis, Helder has coached at Chico State and Clemson University. She was also the coach for the Venezuela Junior National Team of Anzoategui in 1991. At the 2003 Junior Olympic Summer Nationals, she coached a 10-year-old to double golds on both one and three-meters, as well as leading her diver to two new 13-and-under records in those events.

Helder, a former two-time NCAA National Champion on the three-meter, is a 1982 graduate of Chico State University. In 1999, she was inducted into that institution’s athletic Hall of Fame.

Helen Grinstead - Assistant Coach

Helen Grinstead
I have been working with the Wings Team since relocating to Buffalo in the fall of 2006.

As an Assistant Diving Coach, I have worked with all levels and ages from beginners and novices age 7 through high school and (some) collegiate. I have coached local High School divers during their season meets, league meets, (one of which has won her League Champion two years in a row), sectional meets and state qualifier meets. I have traveled with the Wings team to their various competitions as their coach.

In the beginning, it all started, when my daughter joined the High School Swimming and Diving Team in Wellsville, New York Since then,…..

I have attended nine UB Summer Diving Camps, first as the “Bubble Lady” and Dorm Mom to Deck Coach and, still, Dorm Mom and loved every minute of it. I have come to know the kids that attended camp and to see their skills progress over the years; from their camp experiences to club and thru high school competitions. It is truly amazing!

I have been a Volunteer Diving Coach for four years at Hornell High School in Hornell, New York. There, I had one girl go to States two years in a row. I was then hired as the Diving Coach for the Girls and Boys season at Dansville High School in Dansville, New York. I worked for three years with the High School team, Modified Swimming and Diving Program, the Summer Learn to Dive Recreation Program and in my spare time, I attended Diving and Coaching Clinics. At Dansville High School, I had one girl win Section Champion and went to States the same year.

Husband Kent and three children (Richard, Crystal and William), two of which are divers and one runs track, respectively. I graduated with a B. S. degree in Physical Education from Herbert H. Lehman College in New York.