Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald saw the writing on the wall for her gymnastics career as the injuries persisted. Little did the Belmont native know she’d become a renowned athlete in another, surprisingly similar sport—diving.
Recently minted an All-Scholastic by both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald and one of The Globe’s three Athletes of the Year after winning the North sectionals and Division 2 states, the 17-year-old senior will continue her diving career on a combination athletic and merit scholarship at Division I University of Vermont in Burlington.
“Diving wasn’t really in my view, but my mom (Noriko Tonomura) said I should try it,” Tonomura-MacDonald said. “I told her ‘no’ many times before she signed me up for one practice, but the first practice I went to was like being back at gymnastics; I was flipping and it was awesome.”
They say swimming is a good low-impact sport for former runners. Apparently, diving is the best low-impact version of gymnastics. Tonomura-MacDonald often runs into former gymnasts at swimming and diving meets. They bond over injury scars.
“Gymnastics is a very intensive, go, go, go sport,” Tonomura-MacDonald said. “Obviously, in diving, you can get to that level of intensity, but in practice, there’s more leniency with how intense you make it …and it’s not as difficult on the joints.”
Tonomura-MacDonald, who also plays rugby on Belmont HIgh’s always-excellent team, grew up a gymnast. She reached level 7 of the 10-level Junior Olympic scale before her medical retirement from the sport following elbow surgery related to an overuse injury. In addition to the Belmont team, she also competed for the Watertown-based Infinite Diving Club.
Belmont diving coach Megan Olowinski called Tonomura-MacDonald’s work ethic “unparalleled,” especially when it comes to her intense film study.
“In addition to being an absolutely incredible diver and athlete, she’s so humble and kind,” said Olowinski. “The loss of her is going to be felt immensely. She’s actually taught me so much about diving and the sport.”
Tonomura-MacDonald and Kira Davidson, a 2024 Belmont High School graduate, recently started a “learn to dive” program through the town’s recreation department. Every Saturday morning, they work with eight students ages 11-18 for an hour over six weeks. The first session just finished. The second session had a waitlist.
It’s quite the climb for someone who at first resisted the sport.
“When I started, I really didn’t think anything would come of it,” said Tonomura-MacDonald. “When I was a gymnast I was too young to think about my future too, but a few years into when I started diving, it became a reality.”
In addition to Tonomura-MacDonald, two other Marauders earned All-Scholastic honors, and one picked up an honorable mention.
After leading Belmont field hockey to the Division I Elite 8, junior standout Mackenzie Clarke won the Middlesex League MVP and garnered both Globe and Herald All-Scholastic distinctions. Already committed to Division 1 UConn, Clarke posted an impressive 39 goals and 20 assists.
Senior boys cross-country runner Jared Rife, who will run at Middlebury, was a Globe All-Scholastic after finishing fourth at the Div. 1 meet, 11th at the Div. 1 Meet of Champions and fifth at the Middlesex League final.
Field hockey senior Ryan Brodigan was named a Globe All-Scholastic honorable mention.
Belmont High School Fall 2024 Middlesex League All-Stars
- Boys soccer: Thomas Borkowski, Owen Filler, Daniel Liu, Andrew Schreiner.
- Girls soccer: Martha Dimas, Lily Hovsepian Madhavi Ramadas, .
- Football: Wyatt Sclafani, Casey Regan, Zakariah Zaddem.
- Field hockey: Mackenzie Clarke (league MVP), Ana Hopkins, Elise Lakin-Schultz, Niamh Lesnik, Gigi Mastrangelo.
- Volleyball: Wuyee Ke.
- Boys cross-country: Jared Rife, Noah Geiger.
- Girls cross-country: Kira van Kelsted.
- Golf: Peter Ausrotas, Will Jackmin, Rohen McKenzie.
- Girls swimming: Sophia Bufano, Summing Chan, Lily Glavin, Srishti Kar, Karen Tao, Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald, Reina Yano.
At least two coaches who attended Belmont High School picked up accolades. Albert Costabile, a 1973 Belmont graduate and three-sport athlete, earned the Globe’s Division 5 Coach of the Year honors after leading the Shawsheen Valley Technical High School football team to the Super Bowl and a perfect 13-0 season. Plus, 2003 Belmont graduate Roy Dow picked up the Globe’s Division 1 Soccer Coach of the Year honors.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct Casey Regan’s name.
