There is perhaps no more storied career in Naperville Central boys’ diving history than the one carvedout by Giovanni Rizzo. From the opening moments of his freshman season to his final dive as a StateChampion in his senior year, Rizzo made an incredible splash in the aquatics community. While hisaccomplishments were many - including three consecutive sectional championships (1995, 1996, 1997),a 2 nd place sectional finish (1998), and 20th (1996), 8 th (1997) and 1 st place (1998) finishes at the IHSAState Swimming and Diving meet – Rizzo did more than medal. He singlehandedly defined the sport ofdiving in the Naperville area.Rizzo attributes his success to the tireless efforts of his coaches, teachers, and family. Coach LauraWarren was a special influence: “Laura had the patience of a saint working with all of us boys. Wethought we were invincible and were never serious about anything, including practice. Somehow thislittle 5ft nothing, 100lb woman was able to rein us all in. She wasn’t afraid to get on the diving boardand show us either. She taught us respect for the sport and demanded respect from us.” Physicaleducation teachers Bill Salentine, Benny Kenyon, and Bill Hughes were also instrumental in helping ayoung Rizzo hone his talents, tighten his focus, and stoke his competitive fire. Rizzo notes, “I quicklycame to understand with those three guys that you really couldn’t get away with slacking-off, ever. Theyhad a great way of motivating and also ‘calling you out’ when you were being less than your best.”Rizzo had an infectious charisma both on and off the board. “While I had many great memoriesthroughout my high school diving career,” Rizzo remembers, “I would have to say the biggest memorywas when I finished my last dive at the state meet, as I came up out of the water, hearing how loud thepool stands were cheering. I could hear my dad yelling, ‘Way to go, bud!’ and I looked at Coach Warren,who was 9 months pregnant, with a big smile on her face and tears in her eyes. My favorite memoryisn’t just winning the state meet but really seeing all of the support I had from my teammates, my coachand many other coaches who had been following my diving career. My loved ones had been reallyemotionally invested in every dive I did over those four years.” Not long after the state meet, Rizzo wasalso crowned Mr. NCHS, an additional win that gained the attention of Fox Chicago sportscaster, CoreyMcPherrin who came out to film a “Prep Star Athlete of the Week” segment on the diving “king.”Rizzo’s talent and passion for diving led him to Division 1 West Virginia University, but his desire for acareer as a hair stylist ultimately launched him into competitive life beyond the Morgantown pool. Nowa world-renowned hair stylist, Rizzo’s earliest clients were NCHS staff members who gathered in theAttendance Office before his diving practices to receive signature cuts. After turning his freshmancollege dorm bathroom into a lucrative salon, he entered his first professional competition in men’s hairand took first place. Rizzo remembers, “That one competition gave me the itch to do many more. I hadthe fever.” He auditioned and made the Gent’s USA Hair Team, representing North America in the HairOlympics. He won 100 first place trophies from 1999-20006, was recognized as America’s youngest “topeducator,” and was invited to work backstage at the Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Oscars and Emmy’s from2003-2006 and again in 2015. In 2002, he earned a silver medal in Men’s Total Fashion at the Las VegasHair World Olympics, competed with Gent’s USA Team in Milan, where they placed 5 th in a field of 73countries, and was invited to work backstage at the Roberto Cavali runway show during Fashion Week inMilan. In September 2019, he won a bronze medal in the Master Hair Replacement category at the HairWorld Olympics.Beyond his salon, a family business rooted in love, professionalism, and continuous learning, Rizzo saysthat his own family is his greatest achievement. “I am spoiled with my beautiful family,” shares Rizzo.“My wife is the yin to my yang. We balance each other well. We have the best kids, Grayson and Sam.They light up my day when I get home, every day.”His advice to current Naperville Central athletes aligns with what he wishes for his own children: “Yourmind is your most important muscle. Dive deep into your mind and find the strength to push throughyour failures. Don’t ever stay down; always get up and move forward. In order to accomplish anythingworthwhile in life, you have to condition yourself to have mental strength. I have failed many times atmany things in life in general. But, I never let it beat me.”As of Rizzo’s induction into the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame, no other male diver hasmatched his individual State Championship; he remains the defining Naperville Central athlete for hissport.