Any athlete can tell you the road to success lies in hard work and training.

The same goes for college athletes, but with the different divisions, funding, training facilities and programs, some athletes do not have the same advantages.

Though this is no new subject, it always amazes me to see athletes who do not have as much success alongside those who have many training advantages.

The men’s and women’s swimming teams certainly fall under the category of being underprivileged when it comes to training facilities.

Yet the program has been mostly successful, albeit a few seasons.

In specific, senior diver Joe Laird as well as other divers for Eastern have made the most of their surroundings and training facilities to become accomplished divers.

Individually, Laird has had five first place finishes in both the 1 and 3-meter diving events this season.

Even with the disappointing performance at the House of Champions, Laird still placed fourth of 14 divers.

Laird said he trains with two boards and a TiVo and takes whatever advice he can from his parents and Eastern head coach Ray Padovan.

But Laird said he knows Padovan is busy being the coach of both men’s and women’s swimming teams as well as helping out the divers.

Laird talked about how other schools have separate diving tanks and full-time diving coaches, but when you hear him talk about his diving preparations and look at his achievements thus far, the gap between training facilities and athletes does not that big.

It seems the work ethic and determination of an athlete may warrant more respect than is normally given. The respect usually comes from successful results, yet Laird has commanded both successful results and a good work ethic.

Still, it would ridiculous to say a well-funded program, with a big training facility would not help better help an athlete reach their peak and help their consistency. There is a direct correlation between success of Division I schools with well-funded swimming and diving programs and their athletes. The House of Champions proved that too, with Ball State taking first place in both men’s and women’s competition.

But the fact Laird placed fourth means Eastern is doing a good job with their program, though it certainly could afford getting some more funding.

Laird’s placing also shows Padovan, coaching in his 42nd year, has been doing a great job balancing the swimmers and divers as a near lone act.

But the bottom line is athletes like Laird prove hard work can elevate an athlete above their surroundings. Though it would be great to have more training facilities here for the swimming and diving team, the team can be successful with minimal facilities.