Temple University Athletics
Hall of Fame Spotlight: Jane Ann Cantwell
5.6.24 | General
An outstanding diver for Temple from 1977-81, Jane Ann Cantwell earned All-American honors in both 1980 and 1981.Â
During her four-year career at Temple, Cantwell had a near perfect record in dual meet competition and set two Temple school records.  As a junior in 1980, Cantwell finished sixth on the three-meter spring board at the AIAW National Championship. The following year, she placed 13th at the 1981 AIAW Championship.
In high school, the 1977 graduate of Neshaminy High graduate was a two-time Lower Bucks County diving champion. She was later inducted into Neshaminy High's Athletic Hall of Fame (2000) and Temple's Athletics Hall of Fame (2006).
A 1982 Temple University graduate with a degree in health and physical education, Cantwell served as the Council Rock North and South Highs diving coach for 14 years. She has also been a highly competitive diver for the United States, winning medals at the 2013 Pan Am Games and the 2023 World Championships for her age group.
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Talk about your recruitment and why you chose to attend Temple?
"Actually, Temple chose me.  Tony Camille was the diving coach at Temple, and they were looking for a freshman diver.  My high school coach,Ed Lilly, suggested me. At the time I was uncertain where I was going to go for college. Temple then offered me a scholarship and it was close enough to home which was nice. So, it was a great fit for me."
Talk about your time at Temple. How was your time competing during the AIAW era and what are your fondest memories?
"I truly loved my time at Temple. I fit in really well at the school. My college roommate, Heather McIntyre Quarry, was also an All-American on our swim team.  We embraced college life and followed all the other sports teams, volleyball, football, and wrestling, and they would come to our swim meets.Â
As for competing, I did really well in our dual meet competitions, but when I went to nationals it all came together.  I placed sixth at nationals my junior year. I was in second going into my last dive and slipped a little bit. My senior year I made coaches' All-American as I placed 13th."
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Did you compete following your post Temple days?
"I started back competing almost 31 years after my last collegiate competition. Following college, I did everything for my kids and my family. Once my kids got older, I heard that Council Rock High School needed a diving coach, so I applied and got the job. My first four-year diver, TJ, went to state championships and earned a Top 6 finish.Â
I ended up going to TJ's graduation party at a swim club and I was talked into doing a dive. That awoke something inside of me and I eventually joined the East Coast Masters Diving team which is now the biggest masters diving team in the country. My first meet was 2012 in Riverside, California where I placed fourth. After that I started working out and competed in the Pan Am Games in 2013 where I set two world records (50-54 age, synchro and three-meter).Â
After that I had to take a break because I was injured at work. In 2016 I was able to get back in shape for the U.S. Masters Games and won the one meter, three meter and mixed synchro events.
After retiring from 33-year career at FedEx in 2021 and dealing with some family health issues and the passing of my sister and brother, I returned to competitive competition at the 2023 World Championships in Kyushu, Japan. I did pretty well there, placing third in the one-meter for my age group (60-64)."
Talk about coaching at the high school level, as well as the masters level?
"I was coaching at Council Rock North and South High Schools for 14 years, from 2007 until 2021. I had a lot of my divers qualify for the state championship. I was able coach as it was close to my house and the practice schedule was manageable with my work. I had a lot of success, and I truly loved every second I was there.
COVID was a tough time, but I stayed through it as I wanted to be there for one of our best divers, Luke Dotson, who graduated in 2021. He is now diving at Georgia Tech and doing phenomenal.
Now I am coaching for Jersey Diving Academy where I teach kids basic mechanics because I feel they really do not get that training.   I also coach at East Coast Masters where I have coached a lot of young kids who are all doing well in college now."
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During her four-year career at Temple, Cantwell had a near perfect record in dual meet competition and set two Temple school records.  As a junior in 1980, Cantwell finished sixth on the three-meter spring board at the AIAW National Championship. The following year, she placed 13th at the 1981 AIAW Championship.
In high school, the 1977 graduate of Neshaminy High graduate was a two-time Lower Bucks County diving champion. She was later inducted into Neshaminy High's Athletic Hall of Fame (2000) and Temple's Athletics Hall of Fame (2006).
A 1982 Temple University graduate with a degree in health and physical education, Cantwell served as the Council Rock North and South Highs diving coach for 14 years. She has also been a highly competitive diver for the United States, winning medals at the 2013 Pan Am Games and the 2023 World Championships for her age group.
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Talk about your recruitment and why you chose to attend Temple?
"Actually, Temple chose me.  Tony Camille was the diving coach at Temple, and they were looking for a freshman diver.  My high school coach,Ed Lilly, suggested me. At the time I was uncertain where I was going to go for college. Temple then offered me a scholarship and it was close enough to home which was nice. So, it was a great fit for me."
Talk about your time at Temple. How was your time competing during the AIAW era and what are your fondest memories?
"I truly loved my time at Temple. I fit in really well at the school. My college roommate, Heather McIntyre Quarry, was also an All-American on our swim team.  We embraced college life and followed all the other sports teams, volleyball, football, and wrestling, and they would come to our swim meets.Â
As for competing, I did really well in our dual meet competitions, but when I went to nationals it all came together.  I placed sixth at nationals my junior year. I was in second going into my last dive and slipped a little bit. My senior year I made coaches' All-American as I placed 13th."
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Did you compete following your post Temple days?
"I started back competing almost 31 years after my last collegiate competition. Following college, I did everything for my kids and my family. Once my kids got older, I heard that Council Rock High School needed a diving coach, so I applied and got the job. My first four-year diver, TJ, went to state championships and earned a Top 6 finish.Â
I ended up going to TJ's graduation party at a swim club and I was talked into doing a dive. That awoke something inside of me and I eventually joined the East Coast Masters Diving team which is now the biggest masters diving team in the country. My first meet was 2012 in Riverside, California where I placed fourth. After that I started working out and competed in the Pan Am Games in 2013 where I set two world records (50-54 age, synchro and three-meter).Â
After that I had to take a break because I was injured at work. In 2016 I was able to get back in shape for the U.S. Masters Games and won the one meter, three meter and mixed synchro events.
After retiring from 33-year career at FedEx in 2021 and dealing with some family health issues and the passing of my sister and brother, I returned to competitive competition at the 2023 World Championships in Kyushu, Japan. I did pretty well there, placing third in the one-meter for my age group (60-64)."
Talk about coaching at the high school level, as well as the masters level?
"I was coaching at Council Rock North and South High Schools for 14 years, from 2007 until 2021. I had a lot of my divers qualify for the state championship. I was able coach as it was close to my house and the practice schedule was manageable with my work. I had a lot of success, and I truly loved every second I was there.
COVID was a tough time, but I stayed through it as I wanted to be there for one of our best divers, Luke Dotson, who graduated in 2021. He is now diving at Georgia Tech and doing phenomenal.
Now I am coaching for Jersey Diving Academy where I teach kids basic mechanics because I feel they really do not get that training.   I also coach at East Coast Masters where I have coached a lot of young kids who are all doing well in college now."
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