Page 28 - Demo

Chris Heaton, head coach and program director, Dorothy McCraine, president of the Moss Farms Diving Board, and John Fox, assistant coach at the Moose Moss Aquatic Center located in Moultrie, Ga.
The start of what is commonly referred to as the Moss Farms Diving Center began when Robert “Moose” Moss, a local farmer, dug a diving well for his children on his farm 12 miles from Moultrie. Moose, who was once a competitive gymnast, turned his attention to the sport of diving. He learned the sport from some of the best athletes and began coaching his children and others in the area.
The Moss Farms Diving Tigers began competing and winning at regional, zone, and national levels. Under the leadership of Moose, more than $1 million was raised in the early 1990s to build a diving complex in Moultrie. In 1993, the Moose Moss Aquatic Center was o cially opened. It has hosted numerous regional, zone, and national championships.
The 2016 AT&T USA Diving National Championships was the largest event hosted at the center and brought
a resurgence of attention to Moss Farms Diving and placed a national spotlight on Moultrie.
The championships were held Aug. 1-14, with more than 600 elite divers, 200 coaches and judges, plus
family members and friends. Add
to those numbers the hundreds of spectators that attended, and it is easy to understand how the event generated more than $4.3 million in economic impact.
The entire region bene ted from
the national championships. Divers and their families stayed in Valdosta, Thomasville, and Tifton, as well as other South Georgia communities. When you also consider the increase in business for restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, the diving championships were a strong economic win.
According to Dorothy McCraine, president of the Moss Farms Diving Board, the national championships would not have been a success without the support of the local community.
“We could not have done it without the volunteers and nancial support from the community,” said McCraine. “Moultrie is a special place, and when you ask this community for support they are always willing. People from Moultrie love this town and want to see it succeed.”
Approximately 50 volunteers were
utilized each of the 14 days to help manage everything from registration to hospitality to assisting with logistical issues, such as parking
and maintaining the center’s high standards of operation.
“Throughout the two weeks I kept hearing about how friendly and welcoming everyone was,” said McCraine, a Moultrie native and
a local attorney. “I was so proud. Moultrie has always been dear to my heart, and it was rewarding to know we did something to help the community I love.”
Moss Farms a Diving Powerhouse
The Moss Farms Diving Center is regarded as one the top outdoor diving facilities in the country. With ve platforms, eight springboards, and 6,000 square feet of dry-land practice area, the center has become a draw for divers to come train both part-time and full-time.
After the 2016 national championships, Johanna Holloway of Ft. Lauderdale and Maggie Merriam of Orlando, moved to Moultrie to become part of the Diving Tigers
2828SGSGMAMGAAGZAIZNIENE| S|PSRPIRNIGNG20210717