Section 9 champion Vinarub rolls the dice with every leap off diving board

Jackson Vinarub lives with the fear that his next dive could be his last.

It’s been two seasons of frustration for the 2020 Section 9 champion. He dislocated his left shoulder in training in January 2021, rendering his role to that of a loyal teammate, cheerleader and trusted adviser as Washingtonville won a rare Section 9 championship without him.

He was fortunate enough to have his shoulder surgically repaired in short order and began a six-month journey of rest, rehab and essentially learning how to dive once again, which sounds strange for someone who had been so committed to the sport since the fifth grade.

Vinarub made it back to the diving board, carefully following the instructions of his doctors, rehab specialist and trusted club and high school coach, Jim Frisbie. Residual fear quickly became an afterthought as the 5-foot-7 Vinarub started to perform a basic set of prescribed dives designed to get him acclimated once again while preserving his repaired shoulder without the rigors of performing more challenging mid-air stunts, the essence of the sport.

Vinarub felt good headed into his senior season and was eager for scholastic competition, but his return has been fraught with setbacks. His shoulder has popped out three times since September, the last occurrence only weeks ago, and manually put back in place twice and once on its own.

That may sound fortuitous to some but it also signals that it could happen again at any time and his doctor has warned the next time will be his last. Post-season surgery awaits regardless of what happens over the next six weeks. All Vinarub wants is for his shoulder to stay in place long enough to reach the postseason. He’s hoping he can ramp up his degree of difficulty to his 2020 list of dives, to prove that he can do it and put his mind at ease ahead of fulfilling his dream to compete at the collegiate Division One level for Bucknell University next fall.

Believe it or not, even with an “easier” set of dives, Vinarub has already qualified for the state championships in March and wouldn’t mind making a run at another sectional title, though he recognizes lost time has diminished his chances. For the moment, Vinarub is the top-ranked diver in Section 9, achieving a seeding standard of 299.55 points set on Thursday.

Inspired by dad

Jordan Vinarub, Jackson’s father, competed for Amherst College so it only followed suit that he suggested his son give diving a try while the youngster was in fifth grade. Jackson gained interest and an admiration for the sport as father and son watched the Olympics and national championships on TV. So Jackson signed up for a Marist College clinic for his initial plunge. It was a scary thought at first, as most divers would probably attest, but Jackson became somewhat of a natural and set himself on a path to not only improve but be the best.

Determination has always been Jackson’s chief skill, says diver and coach, but Frisbie wasn’t completely sold on his talents right away. Vinarub joined Frisbie’s Orange County Divers Club and the Wizards’ high school team and kept making strides.

“I’m really determined about getting better,’’ Vinarub said. “I've always enjoyed diving. I enjoy the sport in general. it's my enjoyment that keeps me in diving and then my determination helps me to get better.’’

As a freshman Vinarub was confident enough to target winning a sectional championship. A year later he did just that. At the 2020 championships, Vinarub believed he was underachieving through the preliminary round. “I was stressing a little bit there,’’ he said, knowing his performance had to match his increasing degree of difficulty over his final six attempts.

“I pretty much nailed my last dive,’’ he recalled. “That was such an unforgettable feeling, coming up out of the pool after that one. I still had to wait like a couple more divers to really know that I won but it was such a relief to see my goal achieved.’’ The sectional championship medal still hangs prominently on a rack in his bedroom.

“It was a little shocking,’’ said Vinarub, who later placed seventh at the state meet. “I was really determined on achieving it so that made it feel all the more better when it actually happened.’’

A change of fate

Expectations were high headed into his junior season but tempered with the emergence of the COVID pandemic. The start to the 2020-21 season was pushed back nearly two months, into January, and Vinarub was just happy to compete again.

Then, on the fifth day of practice, his life was irrevocably changed. Vinarub remembers the form break - not keeping his hands together and pointed properly - when he hit the water. He knew something was wrong by the pain that shot through him.

“The force of me hitting the water, combined with me trying to roll under the water just kind of dislocated my shoulder,’’ said Vinarub, who tore his labrum, a type of cartilage that keeps the ball joint in place.

“I’ve gone in with my hands apart like a hundred times but I guess it was just that dive that did it,’’ he said.

Vinarub managed to climb out of the pool using his injured shoulder, approached Frisbie and told him something was wrong. His coach knew immediately what had happened - he, too, had once dislocated his shoulder, and there was an unmistakable lump protruding from his diver’s. Vinarub went to the hospital and vividly recalls screaming in agony as the shoulder was put back in place.

Over the years Vinarub had heard tales about minor injuries that fellow divers had endured, like sprained wrists and the occasional head smacks on the board, but he had never been really hurt. That safe, foolproof existence had suddenly become shattered.

“I was in a little bit of disbelief,’’ he said. “I had never even thought of (a dislocation) as a possibility for myself because I never really felt any pains in my shoulders or anything like that.’’

For the next six months Vinarub dutifully followed all instructions and advice from Frisbie, his doctor and physical therapist to get back on the board.

“It was going back to doing stuff that we would do in warmup, like going back to grassroots: how to line up again, how to jump again,’’ Frisbie said. “We had to make sure that his shoulder’s protected because every dive that you do you’re swinging your shoulders, circling your shoulders ... they’ll swing backwards and then go forwards. You’re locking out your shoulders for your entry. There’s a lot going on. We couldn’t jar his system that quickly so we had to take our time to get back to doing most stuff.

“This was never a case of his career could be over,’’ Frisbie added. “The thought the whole time was we’re coming back stronger and better, and that’s the way we viewed it from day one.’’

Vinarub admits he harbored “the tiniest” thoughts of nervousness on his first dive attempt following surgery but it washed by as fast as a ripped dive into the water.

Setbacks mount

Vinarub believed his shoulder issue was in the past when the circumstances were revisited at a September practice. He knew immediately when he hit the water. “That time I did know because I remember the feeling from the last time,’’ he said.

He said he was caught by surprise.

“When we were deciding between surgery or no surgery (in February) they were telling us surgery would significantly lower the chances of it happening again – obviously, there's no guarantees – but it would be like an ‘almost-fix.’’’

There was no surgery required this time but it was made clear that this could be a recurring problem, and so it was. Vinarub was participating in a November lifeguard rescue practice in the pool when the shoulder popped again – this time it slid back into place as he was changing in the locker room. Undaunted, Vinarub returned to action days later and placed second at the Wizard Invitational.

The last occurrence took place Dec. 22 in a meet at Monroe-Woodbury. Vinarub had completed his second dive and Frisbie was irritated with a form break he had noticed. He started to scold his diver, telling him not to listen to the one high score he received, when he saw Vinarub’s compromised position and anguished face and realized the shoulder had popped again. Frisbie quietly escorted Vinarub from the noise of the pool deck to the quiet of the locker room.

“It was pretty somber,’’ Frisbie said, his “dad” instincts taking over from his coaching duties. “I'm not gonna lie: I really thought that was it. I'm like, we can't do this, but at the same time, I have a great relationship with Jackson. So I'm telling him, ‘Hey, this is just another chapter to the story. We're going to get through this. Everything's going to be okay,’ but in my own head I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’ I'm hurting for him. I wish I could take my own arm off and put the pain into my own arm … that's what I was telling him. I don't want you to feel like this, like give it to me. So it was very emotional in the locker room.’’

It was off to a Connecticut hospital again for Vinarub and the doctors said no further damage was being done to the shoulder but warned that one more incident should put a halt to his season. He’s since competed and won three dual meets.

“It's been a roller coaster of emotions for everybody involved,’’ Frisbie said.

Battling the odds

The fourth dislocation did lead to some soul searching as Vinarub seriously contemplated halting his season but he decided to keep pushing forward. Vinarub said he is not blind to the reality he faces, recognizing that short-term motivation can have long-term health issues. He says he feels no pain when he dives.

“At the moment I guess I'm worried about my immediate future health, like keeping the shoulder intact for another month and a half to finish out the rest of the season,’’ he said. “The plan is to get the surgery again after the season's over so I can recover and then dive over the summer and hopefully be good for college. Right now, I'm focused on the immediate future, basically.’’

“You have to take it from his side, too,’’ Frisbie said. “This sport … this kid loves it. He’s probably one of the most committed kids that I’ve ever coached. He wants to keep going.’’

Jackson and his parents have had numerous conversations about his decision to keep going.

“They would listen to what the doctor said, and they were really good about not trying to push their opinions on to me and letting me kind of decide for myself,’’ Vinarub said. “I’m also very grateful for that because I know I've definitely grown more than a few gray hairs on my mom.’’

It’s been a knock-on-wood, cross-your-fingers approach ever since. Frisbie has limited the number of Vinarub’s practice dives and reduced his practice sessions but he’s still practicing 2-3 times a week with Washingtonville and twice more with the club.

The Wizards have home dual meets on Jan. 18 against Goshen and Jan. 24 against Middletown. The OCIAA dive championships are on Feb. 3, followed by diving sectionals on Feb. 18. The state meet is March 4-5 at Ithaca College.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Shoulder dislocations hound star Washingtonville diver Jackson Vinarub