Now, I am not an expert on chaos theory. I wish I were. Chaos is something I seem to be attracted to, yet never have a grasp on. But the Butterfly Effect is truly a fascinating idea to me. The theory essentially states that a small change in a non-linear system can result in major differences in a later state. The term was derived from the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings seven days ago, could have resulted in today’s hurricane. Beyond science fiction and time traveling stories, it is an interesting prospect to think about.
This week I have had several moments to think about how this actually works. When I was a young boy of about ten years old, one of my favorite things to do was dive at the Indiana University Outdoor Pool. As a little kid, I thought I was pretty hot stuff. I jumped off the ten meter platform for the first time when I was seven years old, and went head first off of it when I was eight years old. One day while diving off of ten meter at about the age of ten, I met a small man in a speedo who had seen me dive head first off of ten meter. He walked back up to the platform with me and said, “That was pretty good, now try this.” Right in front of my eyes he threw a front 4 ½ summersault dive. At the time, almost no diver was attempting these much less competing them. As I watched this, I knew that I wanted to be a diver. I wanted nothing more than to learn how to do what I had just witnessed.
The man I met turned out to be Mark Lenzi. Mark is a story unto himself. He was a wrestler all through high school and he himself was inspired by Greg Louganis and turned to diving. He started diving at age 18, when most kids have already well-established themselves in the diving world. He was signed to a scholarship by Hobie Billingsley, the greatest coach to walk the Earth, sight unseen. He won two NCAA diving championships at Indiana University, became the first man in America to compete a front 4 ½ summersault off of the ten meter platform (the same dive I witnessed), was the first diver ever to break 100 points on a single dive, was a gold medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games on three meter, and a bronze medalist in 1996. Oh, and this all American hero was born on the fourth of July. You honestly can’t make up a story like his.
Meeting Mark at the one moment in my life led me into the world of diving. When I first started as a little neophyte diver I met Chris Unruh. Chris would be my diving coach from 7th through 12th grade, and then my friend and mentor for life. Chris, strangely enough, also happened to be friends (and at one point roommates) with Mark, and a recruit of Hobie Billingsley. Chris fueled my passion for diving, and made me a student of its physics and beauty. After competing in high school, I moved straight into coaching. At the time I was the youngest certified diving coach in the country. Coaching lead me to meet so many wonderful kids that would have a greater impact on me than I ever would on them.
As a coach for Bloomington North High School, I was working at a meet where IU swimming star Jenn Cristy was singing the National Anthem. She was the recent Big Ten record holder in the 50 freestyle, and had just transitioned into music and was touring with John Mellencamp. Just by chance she started up a conversation with me. Ten years later we have an amazing child, and Jenn and I are about to have our ten year wedding anniversary. Diving lead me to her.
I have to wonder about the Butterfly Effect. How that one chance meeting of Mark Lenzi could possibly have led to all these miraculous events in my life. I can’t guarantee that they are connected, but it leaves you pondering the potential outcomes if that one chance meeting hadn’t happened. I would like to think I would have seen Mark in the Olympics and still been inspired to chase a new dream, but I can’t say for sure. It definitely leaves me wondering about the design of the universe, and how randomly things happen.
I write this as my friend Mark Lenzi fights for his life on life support. I don’t know what happens next. I wish him peace no matter what. Most importantly, I thank him for one moment in time, and all the rippling effects it has had on my life since then.
Love you Mark.
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