Priorities and Hard Work
Lyle’s formula for success doesn’t involve a sacrifice-everything-for-diving rule. On the
contrary, Lyle succeeds because he is self-aware and seeks a balanced life.
“Having priorities is important,” Lyle says. A typical day consists of two and a half
hours of practice in the evening, training with a personal trainer once a week and two
or three hours of practice on weekends. “I will not stay up until 1 am, ever. I prioritize
sleep because I know that if I’m not sleeping well, then I won’t be productive and I won’t
do well at practice or at school. I know I’m not that productive at night, so for most of
high school, I’ve gotten up at 4:30 am when my mind is clearer and I work faster.” When
competition keeps him away from school for days at a time, Lyle reaches out to his
teachers on his own and makes up his work.
Lyle also has prioritized making the most of his experience as a member of the
SHHS Swimming and Diving Team. He attends every meet (unless he’s at a national or
international competition) and stays through the end, cheering on his swimming and
diving teammates. “At its most basic level, diving is an individual sport, but there’s also
an important team aspect to it,” he says. “You get that a lot with a club team, but the
high school swimming team is a change of pace from a diving competition. There’s a
different energy and that’s something I enjoy.”
Cahalane says that Lyle possesses a rare emotional intelligence. Lyle is slow and
methodical. He’s always watching, always observing and processing information,
whether he’s watching someone do a dive or whether he sees that one of his teammates
needs a boost,” he says.
What’s Next?
Many who have watched Lyle in competition locally ask the same question: will Lyle
compete in the Olympics?
The answer to that depends on who’s answering.
Cahalane says that the 2020 Olympics is a possibility for Lyle, although 2024 looks
promising, as well. In 2024, Lyle will have just completed his collegiate career and will
have had four years to develop physically. “When divers are young, most of what they
achieve is with mechanics. With Lyle, it will be fun to see what he can do now that he can
add power,” he says.
Lyle’s goals are shorter-term. “I’m excited to dive at Ohio State because it’s a place
where I can have an impact and enjoy doing the sport that I love with people who will
enjoy it with me. There’s an energy at Ohio State that I connected with and it’s a good fit
for me.” As for diving after college, Lyle says he’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it.
His mother says she was surprised that Lyle chose to stay closer to home, given his
love for travel and new experiences, on top of the offers to dive at Stanford, University
of Texas, Florida State, The University of Arizona and Indiana University, among others.
Upon reflection, she says, it all makes sense.
“Lyle likes being the hometown kid. He embraces Cleveland and ‘the 216’ and
what all of that means to him. When it comes down to it, I think he likes having the
opportunity to go to Ohio State where they can say that they brought in the state champ
and then he can grow with the program. To him, that was really important.”
More than anything, Cahalane says that whatever is ahead for Lyle, he’s well
equipped to manage it. “His family has set him up to be the man that he is and the
person that he’s becoming. He has a good, healthy sense of life and he knows what
matters and what doesn’t matter,” he says. “Lyle walks out of competition like there’s
still a tomorrow. For him, life always moves on.” SL