As the sun set through the windows of Knox Natatorium Monday afternoon, outlining the graceful flips and spins of high school divers twisting into water, something seemed out of place.
The announcer quickly sped through the names of a handful of participants and their varying dives, but one name stuck out "John Gotti."
"Now 'John Gotti' will be performing an inward 21*2 from the pike position."
Could it be?
No, that John Gotti is currently serving a life-term prison sentence, and the only thing Lawrence's John Gatti has in common with the infamous mobster is the way he can knife in this case, manipulating his body perfectly into the pool.
"I get teased a little," said Gatti, pronounced 'Gad-dy', who looks more like a choirboy than a mobster, with his bushy brown hair and soft smile. "More so last year, teachers would kid me.
"But no one can pronounce my name right."
While the Lions' sophomore has quite a unique name, he wants to be known for his prowess in the pool.
"Obviously my goal is to win state and be known as a good diver," Gatti said after winning the diving portion of Monday's five-team meet.
Gatti is well on his way.
He's won four out of the five meets he's entered and took third last year at state.
"By getting third last year at state, it really showed me what I have to do to win it all," Gatti said. "I feel pretty good right now, and I'm steadily improving on my pace to be the best I can in the last meets before state."
Lawrence diving coach Ryan Adams thinks Gatti's even impressing himself this season.
"He really started this year strong," Adams said. "After quitting his club team, I think he thought he would be a little off but he's really doing well."
Having such a strong diver can't help but make first-year head coach Alicia Jackson's job a little easier.
"This is my first year and all, but I knew coming into the season that if he had the discipline and work ethic then he'd have a chance to win the state title," Jackson said. "So far, he's done all of that."
Well, if Jackson is happy to have such a good young diver she must be elated about having two.
In addition to Gatti, Lawrence freshman Nick Leet isn't far behind. In fact, Leet is the only one who's beaten Gatti so far.
"That'll be the only time," Gatti said jokingly, of his pal who has pushed him harder this season. "We have a friendly rivalry that motivates each of us to do better."
Right now the only thing that could make things better is a state title, and it could come down to which Lawrence diver has the better day.
"I really feel that both of us could be in the top three," Gatti said.
LHS placed third at Monday's meet.
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