Lawrence University junior Jackson Bertman, a standout diver on the swimming and diving team, keeps his focus on team success even while piling up individual accolades, including being named Midwest Conference Diver of the Year for the third straight year.
“Diving is individual, but all my points go toward the entire team,” Bertman said shortly after another successful season in the pool came to a close. “When you get up there, all divers turn into one team. Everyone is cheering each other on. Every dive, we are screaming for each other."
Jackson Bertman
The springboard diver from Alexandria, Virginia, knew from early on that he wanted to compete in college and quickly fell in love with the team culture at Lawrence.
“I wanted to take my diving to the next level,” Bertman said, noting how important consistency, weight training, and team dedication is to his college experience. “My initial visit to Lawrence blew me away. Everyone was super welcoming, and all I could think was, ‘They really want me to come here…and I really want to come here, too.’”
He has been a model of consistent excellence since stepping on campus. In the recent conference championships, Bertman swept the 3-meter and 1-meter diving titles while breaking both Lawrence records.
“I couldn't stop smiling,” Bertman said. “I was having so much fun that when I got out of the water and I broke the record, I thought, 'I just want to keep going'.”
Jackson Bertman on coming to Lawrence: “I wanted to take my diving to the next level.” (Photo by Paul Wilke)
He has been equally driven in the classroom.
Bertman is coordinating with multiple departments to create a self-designed major in classical civilizations. He credits several professors for making this possible, including Randall McNeill, the Ottilia Buerger Professor of Classical Studies and associate professor of classics, Danielle Joyner, associate professor of art history, and Ingrid Albrecht, the David and Julia Uihlein Professor of Ethics and associate professor of philosophy. The major focuses on classical culture, a passion he has had since he was young.
Bertman intends to go to graduate school to continue his studies, and he hopes to eventually teach in a Classics Department. In addition, he wants to continue to coach divers at the high school level and above, as he believes that you truly come to appreciate your sport once you see it through a coach’s perspective.
Bertman said he takes the team approach to everything he does on campus, from the classroom to student organizations. He serves as the social media manager for the Lawrence Rock Climbers Club and competes on an intramural volleyball team. He’s having fun every step of the way.
Bertman advises all college athletes to focus on the enjoyment of their sport first because, “You never know when it will be your last time.” This is the approach he will continue to take into his senior year.
