GOODYEAR – In the heart of Goodyear sits a small YMCA swimming facility. Established in 2005, it offers programs that support improving physical health and provides children with swimming opportunities.
Recently, it has made a name for itself beyond the local community thanks to one burgeoning group: the Westside Silver Fins.
The team is made up of young athletes that participate in swimming and diving competitions, varying from local to international tournaments. It is coached by AAU and AIA Coach of the Year recipient Bill Hunter; Barb Nejman, a diver who competed in the 1976 Olympics; assistant coach Daniel Facteau; and novice coach Alex Burton.
This coaching staff not only guides its athletes but works to promote a sport that only seems to draw the nation’s eyes during the Summer Olympics.
“If you enjoy acrobatics, you’ll want to watch diving,” Hunter said. “We have parents that migrate over to our side of the facility to watch our kids practice. Diving is actually one of the most watched events in the Olympics, but it’s not as popular in the U.S. anymore.”
The team’s performance in the recent AAU 2025 Diving National Championships at the Riverside Aquatic Complex in Riverside, California, was impressive, placing second overall. The eight-day event featured more than 600 divers representing 90 teams from across the United States.
The national hampionships are the premier platform for amateur diving, helping to build the future of the sport while fostering lifelong friendships and memorable experiences. The Silverfins’ strong showing reaffirms their place among the nation’s elite programs and underscores the value of local YMCA athletics in shaping young champions.
“These young athletes worked incredibly hard all year long, and last week, they showed the country what West Valley talent looks like,” Hunter said “This is more than a team – it’s a family, and I’m proud of what they’ve achieved together.”
One of Hunter’s most consistent divers is Tanner Lange. Throughout his six years of diving for the Silverfins, he has placed in the top five for the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform dives in different tournaments on a regular basis. The young national champion continues to strive for even more success and is putting that momentum toward his ultimate goal: to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
He’s only 15. He’s what his coaches call “bold and sturdy.”
“Knowing that I have the potential to get there, it’s scary and stressful sometimes,” Lange said of the 2028 Olympics. “My diving coach tells me ‘get comfortable being uncomfortable.’ I remind myself of that every day.”
Hunter, Lange and other divers traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to compete in the Coastal Classic Swim Meet. Lange secured first place in his group for diving. He also placed third in the intermediate men high diving event.
Multiple other members of the Silverfins had impressive performances, including 11-year-old Levi Berlyn.
Berlyn is one of the divers that Hunter said has the “crazy in the head” attribute, meaning he is not afraid to take on a new challenge. He has consistently scored first place in his meets such as the 2025 MAC Invitational and the 2023 Arizona Association State Championships. In the Coastal Classic, he recorded first place in his high dive group. Berlyn was ranked the third best overall diver in the event.
The Silverfins’ upward trajectory has brought them opportunities and has also helped build connections across various countries.
The team’s next event will take place in Paradise Valley in the PSC September Sizzler swim meet.
“What I love about diving is that they help and support each other,” Hunter said. “Even in a national meet, you’ll see a kid from a different dive team support a kid from another team. You don’t see that in a lot of sports.
“It’s a different culture.”