For Jeremy Thornton, being the lone male diver on the Syracuse swimming and diving team is not the best situation.

The sophomore is almost always outnumbered in meets, as bigger schools with deeper rosters send more men to the board. Thornton has calloused to the situation, drawing motivation any way he can. This weekend, that task will be easier to do when the Connecticut native returns to his home state. SU competes in the Nutmeg Invitational at Yale in New Haven, Conn.

The Orange returns to the pool after taking fifth in the men’s competition and seventh in the women’s at the Nike Cup in Chapel Hill, N.C., starting Nov. 18. The Nutmeg Invitational features Yale and Massachusetts among other New England schools. SU did not participate in the Invitational last season because of exam scheduling.

‘We just had Thanksgiving and we’re still relatively close to the Nike Cup,’ head coach Lou Walker said. ‘Our team goal is to be at our best when the Big East (Championship) approaches. In scheduling, I look to get some dual meets because it’s more of a traditional one-school-versus-another-school format. I also look to schedule some multiple-event competition along the way so we’re ready for the Big East Championships.’

As for Thornton, diving only minutes away from home in Manchester is sure to be a highlight for his season.

‘There’s a little extra motivation,’ Thornton said. ‘Whenever you have people there cheering for you, you’ll do better.’

‘It’s certainly a nice opportunity (for him),’ Walker said. ‘It’s great when it works out that way.’

Thornton was coached in high school by his father, Jeff Thornton, at Manchester High School. Originally a swimmer, Thornton tried diving after the team was short of divers. When Thornton arrived at SU, he noticed it was going to be short of divers and joined the squad.

‘Like any parent, it’s great to see your kid doing well at things they like to do,’ Jeff Thornton said. ‘He’s going to have a lot of family and friends there this weekend. We’re looking forward to filling (Yale) with SU fans.’

Despite the homecoming, being the only male still makes matters complicated.

Thornton said it is tough being the only male because there isn’t anyone to push him in practice. Last year, Syracuse had four male divers.

‘We would push each other to do better,’ Thornton said. ‘It was a healthy rivalry.’

At the Nike Cup two weeks ago, Thornton placed 14th in a field that featured five divers from North Carolina alone. Thornton took the meet as a learning experience. Just watching them, he said, made him want to do better.

Assistant and diving coach Chris Waters agrees.

‘We’ve gone against some very tough competition,’ Waters said. ‘Jeremy’s taken it all in stride. He looks much more comfortable in warm-ups. I’m hoping it carries over into this meet.’

Published on December 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm