From The Heart: Venezuelan Diver and Coach Duo Lead St. Bonaventure Women's Dive To Resurgence

The 'From The Heart' feature series takes an in-depth look at St. Bonaventure student-athletes and coaches. Named for the beloved Merton's Heart that overlooks campus, this series will tell the stories of Bonnies athletic programs on and off the field. Click here for previous installments in the series.

When Dhavgely Mendoza enrolled at St. Bonaventure this past winter, she arrived to a deserted campus.  

She moved onto campus a week after students had departed home for Winter Break, leaving just her and her coach on campus. 

Despite the challenges, Mendoza overcame the obstacles rather quickly. She’s now an Atlantic 10 silver medalist in the 1-meter dive in her first semester competing for the Bonnies. She also finished 11th in the 3-meter at championship.

“The medal means a lot to me and my team,” Mendoza said. “Although I only had almost two months of training, my body and mind responded well in that competition.”

Her success started in her first meet with the Brown and White, where she came in first for both the one-meter and three-meter dives. In her second meet, she was victorious on both boards again, breaking the St. Bonaventure program record in each dive. She was later named A-10 Women’s Swim and Dive Rookie of the Week on January 28. 

Mendoza has provided an immediate boost to the diving program. The St. Bonaventure women’s diving program came into this season with just one member, junior Sanayia Joefield. When diving coach Alejandra Fuentes arrived at St. Bonaventure last August, her first priority was to upgrade the team. 

“We were looking for a talented diver that could come in the spring,” Fuentes said. After reaching out to a friend who coached in Venezuela, she was recommended Dhavgely.

The invisible string connecting Mendoza and Fuentes leads back to their origins in Venezuela.

Despite being many years apart, both divers competed for the same club team. Though Mendoza was only five years old the last time Fuentes dove for the club, Fuentes had noticed her while following the club’s progress over the years.

“When my friend mentioned her name, I was like, I know her,” Fuentes said. “I’ve seen her diving and I like her.”

Fuentes had a highly accomplished career competing for Venezuela. Most notably, Fuentes represented the country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. She also finished near the top in the 2005 World Championship, Rome Grand Prix, and Madrid Grand Prix. 

Fuentes began her coaching career in Venezuela, where she was an assistant coach on the Venezuelan National Team for seven years. She then moved to Seattle, where she was the head coach of Alpha Diving Club. When she decided to make the move to collegiate coaching, wanted to start at a small school.       

“I didn’t want to go to a big school,” she said. “I want to learn the ropes and want to know what it’s like.”  

When Fuentes heard about the opening at St. Bonaventure, it caught her attention. After an initial interview, she came to St. Bonaventure for a visit.            

“When I got here, I was like ‘This is where I want to be,’” Fuentes said. “I came from Seattle, which is flashy, big, and modern. When I came to this little town in New York, I felt home.”           

 The feeling of “home” is felt by both Fuentes and Mendoza. When asked about her time on campus, Mendoza expressed that St. Bonaventure has become a second home to her.           

“I feel comfortable and calm,” she said. “And that is the most important thing for me right now.”