All-American diver Carlton rocks in and out of the pool

The success, the awards and the recognition are things anyone would expect from the life of All-American diver Marc Carlton. But behind all of the accolades is a hard-working college student juggling his passion for both music and diving. \nAfter diving training in the morning, he jams on his guitar before heading to another diving practice. Following this second practice, he meets up with his band to write and rehearse music. This daily rotation for Carlton is not just something he has to do, but something he loves and chooses to do.\nAside from all of his accomplishments, Carlton is like any normal college senior. For every event title victory there is another gig for his band to play music. For every hour spent training for competition there are hours spent watching IU men's basketball and woman's water polo. \nYank the Webster, N.Y., product out of the pool, and you'll find his real passion, aside from diving, is music.\n"I really love every kind of music," said Carlton. "I have favorites in all genres." \nDuring the summer, Carlton would play in a dedicated band, "Jen Christie's Paradox," covering songs by the likes of Rush, Train and many others. \nSure, there are probably many different athletes who play guitar or drums and jam with other individuals on a weekly basis, but Carlton didn't just jam with friends; he performed at shows with his friends -- a talented group of friends at that.\nSix months before the beginning of the fall semester, he was asked by his friend Jen Christie to play in the band. Prior to joining her band, Christie played with John Mellencamp at the Grammys as well as when he toured the country.\nHowever, due to his desire to set high goals in diving, he had to put his rock star career on hold. \n"Sometimes bright people have a lot of interests," head diving coach Jeff Huber said. "It is hard to focus on everything." \nHis priorities right now are to prepare for the Big Ten and the NCAA Championships, and to go out and grab those titles. \n"There is a lot of personal goal-setting because diving is a really individual sport," Carlton said. "I have to set those goals for myself, and come into practice with my own game plan." \nIn his tenure here at IU, Carlton has meant something to the traditionally rich No. 13-ranked IU men's swimming and diving team. Huber has seen Carlton grow throughout the years, but in describing his All-American diver, he summed it all up in one statement: "a great kid and a great person as well as a great athlete." \nCoaches are often proud of their athletes, but when the compliment comes from the seven-time U.S. National Coach of the Year, well, then it means a little more.\nHuber holds Carlton in the highest regard. Asked if Carlton ranks among the nation's best, he answered with an emphatic "Oh yeah." \n"He is everything -- he is the heart and soul of this team," Huber said. "His goal should be to be a national champion." \nCarlton has always set high goals for himself, and has succeeded in achieving them. Carlton is in contention to grab his third All-American honor this year. His next goal will be his next step in his diving career out of college. Perhaps Huber will be coaching the All-American during the Olympics in 2008. Or maybe Carlton will continue to play guitar. All he can do is juggle between the diver in the pool and the mild-mannered rock star away from the spring board.\n-- Contact Staff Writer at Evan Harris at evharris@indiana.edu.