Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–For the second time in their careers, Florida State head diving coach John Proctor and senior diver Molly Carlson swept the ACC diving awards.
Proctor was selected as the ACC Female Diving Coach of the Year and Carlson was voted as the ACC Diver of the Year.
Both Carlson and Proctor are the only representatives from Florida State to win the awards in school history.
“I just want to thank everyone who voted for John and I for these tremendous honours,” said Carlson, who originally is from Fort Frances but now resides in Toronto.
“As one of five senior divers, we put our entire hearts into making this year count and I don’t think it could have gone any better. We went one meet after another, just rising to the top and having fun.”
After winning the ACC Diver of the Year as a freshman in 2017, Carlson closes the book on her career in the Garnet and Gold with her second honour after winning her third ACC Meet MVP honor. She won gold on platform (297.25) and 3-metre (340.00) after taking silver on 1-metre (300.85) at the 2020 ACC Championships, becoming the only diver in school history to win a medal on each board at a single ACCs.
At the NCAA Zone B Championships, Carlson finished second on 1-metre (579.75), third on 3-metre (646.10) and fifth on platform (512.10) in order to qualify for the NCAA Championships in all three disciplines for the third time in her career before the season came to an abrupt halt.
In addition to her ACC awards, Carlson is a seven-time ACC medalist, three-time ACC champion, two-time All-American honorable mention and a four-time NCAA qualifier. Out of the pool, Carlson has earned CSCAA Scholar All-America, All-ACC Academic team and was recently selected to the FSU Torchbearer 100.
“John is so deserving of this,” Carlson lauded of her coach. “He left the gates open for us to soar to heights we’ve never reached before. I am ever so grateful of this team, coaching staff and memories that were made this season. Thank you FSU, I love you and go Noles!”
Proctor takes home his second ACC Female Diving Coach of the Year after Carlson and her classmate, Ayla Bonniwell scored 136 points at the 2020 ACC Championships. The duo highlighted the meet with a one-two finish in women’s 3-metre, becoming the first pair since 2004 to win gold and silver in the same diving event at ACCs.
“The last four years I have had the privilege to work with two of the best competitors I have ever been around,” said Proctor.
“I have had the best seat in the house to watch Ayla Bonniwell and Molly Carlson put together fantastic collegiate careers here at Florida State. This year they were incredible at ACCs, winning two events, going one-two in another, and medaling in all three. Along with Eden Hessinger’s debut ACC performance on platform, it was awesome to watch.”
