Wauseon High School Divers Qualify for State Tournament

Tristan Burkholder and Tucker Hall will represent the school at the upcoming competition.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Despite facing an injury just three weeks before the district tournament, junior diver Tristan Burkholder of Wauseon High School qualified for the state tournament for the second straight year. This time, he will be joined by his best friend and teammate, freshman Tucker Hall, who was convinced to join the dive team last summer. Two female divers from Wauseon, junior Kali Spengler and freshman Taylor Schultheis, also qualified for the state tournament.

Why it matters

Diving is a family tradition for the Burkholders, with Tristan's father Tom having competed for Wauseon High School in 2002. The fact that Tristan and his friend Tucker will be representing the school together at the state tournament makes the accomplishment even more meaningful.

The details

Tristan Burkholder suffered a strained quad injury just three weeks before the district tournament, leaving him unable to practice during a critical stretch. However, he was able to overcome the adversity and finish in fourth place, earning a spot at the state tournament. Tucker Hall, Tristan's best friend, was essentially tricked into joining the dive team last summer, but the prank has paid off as he will now join Tristan at the state competition.

  • Tristan Burkholder suffered his quad injury three weeks prior to the district tournament.
  • Tristan Burkholder finished in fourth place at the district tournament, qualifying for the state tournament.
  • The state tournament will take place later this month.

The players

Tristan Burkholder

A junior diver at Wauseon High School who qualified for the state tournament for the second straight year, despite facing an injury just three weeks before the district competition.

Tucker Hall

A freshman diver at Wauseon High School who was convinced to join the dive team last summer by his best friend Tristan Burkholder, and will now represent the school at the state tournament alongside Tristan.

Tom Burkholder

Tristan Burkholder's coach and father, who also competed in diving for Wauseon High School in 2002.

Kali Spengler

A junior diver from Wauseon High School who also qualified for the state tournament.

Taylor Schultheis

A freshman diver from Wauseon High School who also qualified for the state tournament.

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What they’re saying

“It's a blast, especially when he started getting better than I ever was. That was a lot of fun to watch him do what I couldn't do and go farther than what I could do.”

— Tom Burkholder, Tristan's coach and father

“I was shocked, but it all just goes back to luck. There's a lot of that in this sport. You can have a great day, a bad day. My great day came on the right day.”

— Tristan Burkholder

“I just try and be happy because when I'm happy, I tend to screw up less. When you're happier, I think you do better. I just try and be happy.”

— Tristan Burkholder

“It means a lot, we've been really close growing up and now that I can go and do this with him is gonna be so much fun. And hopefully we can do it again next year.”

— Tucker Hall

What’s next

The state tournament will take place later this month at the C.T. Natatorium in Canton.

The takeaway

The bond between Tristan Burkholder and Tucker Hall, as well as the family tradition of diving at Wauseon High School, make this accomplishment even more meaningful. The school is proving to be a diving powerhouse, with four divers qualifying for the state tournament this year.