DIVING : Wood Springs at Chance to Walk Plank Head-First

Ricky Wood is only 14 years old, but he has been making a splash as a diver for eight years.

The Simi Valley teen-ager last year became the first in his age group (13 and younger) to sweep all three events--the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and 7-meter platform--at the United States Diving Junior Olympic Championships in Orlando, Fla. He will compete in his fifth national championships Aug. 19-23 in Irvine.

Wood is one of 12 junior divers, aged14 to 18, who will represent the U.S. at the World Age Group Diving Championships in Norway, Aug. 6-9. He placed second in his age group (14-15) in a qualifying meet in Houston, Tex., to advance to the championships. It will be the second international competition for Wood, who won two events at the 1986 Western Hemisphere Games in Boca Raton, Fla.

The freckle-faced ninth-grader has a collection of more than 70 medals and trophies. Soon after he starting diving at age 6, Wood began laying the groundwork for the 1992 Olympics.

“The Olympics is one of his goals and it’s strong enough to keep him going,” said Van Austin, Wood’s diving coach.

Wood dives four hours daily throughout the summer and trains year-round under Austin, the Cal State Northridge and UCLA men’s and women’s diving coach. Austin, who has coached diving for 27 years, has worked with Wood for eight.

“I think he’s super,” Austin said. “He’s progressed as far as anyone can at this stage. The most important thing is that he’s been able to do it without burning out. My number one concern is keeping him interested. He’s at the age right now where most people burn out.”

Wood will attend Sinaloa Junior High in the fall but will dive for Royal High.