Kylee Wells-Retrum

With a strong gymnastics background in hand, Kylee (Wells) Retrum began diving in middle school. She participated in both sports for two years before opting to focus on diving – and she quickly rose to prominence. She was part of the USA Diving Regional Training Center at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, where she specialized on the 10-meter platform while also training on 1-meter and 3-meter springboards.

The IHSAA offers only 1-meter springboard competition and Retrum excelled in that event for Western High School. She reached the IHSAA state finals four straight years, improving with each appearance. She placed seventh as a freshman, third as a sophomore, and second as a junior before winning a state championship her senior season.  She became just the second Western female to win an IHSAA state championship and first Howard County girl to capture a state diving title.

Retrum continued her career at the University of Tennessee where she became a Southeastern Conference champion and a two-time All-American by placing among the Top 16 finishers in the 2001 and 2003 NCAA Championships.

In 2001, she was the SEC’s Freshman Diver of the Year. That same season, she qualified for the NCAA Championships and came away with All-American honors by finishing fifth in 10-meter platform. In 2003, Retrum was the SEC platform champion and an 11th-place finisher at the NCAA Championships.