Kulbak, a senior nomon of Highland Park, has long been loved by mathematics and science.
“Something about it clicks in my brain,” Kulbak said. “I like architecture and engineering. When I was probably 3, I started building things. I am creating things throughout my life. ,
Kulbak has resumed an impressive academic – he has a weighted 4.65 GPA – as well as a terrible body of work as a diver.
“My parents say that I am a better student than a diver,” he said. “I don’t think this is true, but I take academics seriously because I know I am not going to do it after college, and I need to look out for my future.”
Kulbak has a bright future inside and outside the pool. Pen State Committees and aspirational mechanical engineers started diving into the fifth grade.
“I took it seriously as a child, but I was just doing it,” he said. “In the eighth grade, I went to the state meeting in 2020. I saw the divers, and I was so, ‘I want to be like that. I want to go. I want to win the state.” And I have made all those things. “
Kulbak on Saturday completed the final item on the checklist when he scored 531.30 points to win the state championship at FMC Natatorium in Westmont. He overtook Senior Kene Whiting on Friday after the initial round of Rolling Meadows of 1.3 points, but on Saturday enhanced all three dives.
Nazreth Junior Cooper Kosanovich was second with 508.85 points, and was third with Whiting 502.30.
Noam Kulbak of Highland Park stands on top of the podium with Kopar Kosanovich of Nazreth, and rolling the Kyen Whiting of Meadows after finishing first, second and third respectively after finishing first, second and third, on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in FMC Nattorium, (Troy Stolls).
Kulbak is the only second Highland Park diver to win the state title. He joins John Robins, who won in 1959.
Highland Park Diving Coach Jonathan Robbie said, “His last three divers were Kamal.” “We stacked her last two with a way (degree of difficulty). We think he could kill those divers, and we knew that he needed him – and he came through, which was great. ,
Robbie was a three -time state medalist for Glenbrook North, who finished second in 2009 and 2010. Under his mentorship, Kulbak also won three medals, fifth as a sophomore and second as a junior.
But Kulbak left Robbie behind by taking his advice and focusing on the form instead of flash.
“This was not about improving my divers’ difficulty,” Kulbak said. “It was diving only one, but was fixing them.
“I really had the same dives and orders this year that I did last year, but everything was just a little faster. I combat a difficult list, but (focus) was making the same dives that I did a little better last year. ,
Kulbak worked on hard dives during the season, but in Postsen he clung to his bread-and-batter.
“My coach preached that it is a number of sports, and obviously the hard difficulty can pay, but it is risky,” Kulbak said. “So it was just about being consistent. I remembered one in meeting. This was my fourth dive, one of my most difficult people. I think I got 4S and 5s on it, so it was a bit hard, but it was coming back. ,
The return was given more and more fuel than only physical talent.
“He is just mentally solid,” Robbie said. “It really doesn’t matter what we throw at him. I can throw any scenario on it. He will still get up on the board, and he will do the best dive he can do. It is just consistent. ,
Kulbak has set its places on winning the state title continuously.
“When I met the team freshman year, I knew that I met the other on the pool deck that my goal was,” he said. “To date, this has been my biggest dream in life.
“It sounds a bit clich, but it really is.”
It was not easy to chase his dream to celebrate any celebration on Saturday night, and Kulbak did not have plans or energy.
“I have got 10 hours of sleep in the last three nights,” he said. “The veins have gone mad. I am currently running on pure adrenaline, and there is no better feeling than ending the high school in this way. ,
This is the end of a type of partnership for Robbie and Kulbak, whose high school career share many similarities. For example, Robbie has an 11-Dive record in the main vest pool, while Kulbak has a six-date record. Kulbak will go to Big Ten just like Robbie, who competed for Minnesota.
“He is ready for the next level,” Robbie said. “This is a blessing that is on the pool deck and on board.”
Matt Le Crane is a freelance reporter.