June 27, 2017

By Chuck Lyons

Rosemead High School Class of 2017 graduate Ivan Ip is known in the area for his basketball skills. So, many people were surprised when he recently announced his college selection.

Ip choose Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island for its diving program. Brown is a private university in the Ivy League and is the seventh oldest institution of higher learning in United States of America.

Ip always wanted to go to an Ivy League school because his parents Sally Luu and Tony Ip told him to dream big. So he did. And now Ivan says he is looking forward to the college with the best fit for him. Other front-running universities considered were Dartmouth and Northwestern.

“My 3.6 weighted grade point average (GPA) with major Advanced Placement (AP) classes included a 4.2 weighted GPA my sophomore year and then the classes got even harder,” said Ip. “I had good grades and I knew I would have a better opportunity to compete at a big college in diving instead of basketball.”

Ip will be focusing on a double major at Brown. He will study business and computer science. “When I made a trip to Brown I enjoyed the atmosphere there with the team and they will allow me to focus on education” emphasized Ip.

“They put diving around your school schedule so you can focus on your education, while still giving your best in improving and helping the diving team. “

Ivan said he is open to opportunities in business and says some day, he has a goal to operate his own business, whatever that may be.

And he says thanks to his mother for introducing him to diving when he was nine years old. “My mom was looking for a place to do lap swimming and she saw a flyer at the El Monte Aquatic Center for diving. She suggested me and my brother Dylan try it out. We were scared at first. But it was exhilarating and I liked it. Dylan didn’t. Dylan is focusing on basketball as a senior at Rosemead High School.”

Ivan learned how to do springboard diving from the common 1 meter board (about 3 feet above the water) and also 3 meters board (about 9 feet above the water), and also platform diving at 5 and 7 meters.  For college he will concentrate on springboard diving.

Ivan said he enjoyed playing basketball after starting it at Temple City Parks and Recreation League in eighth grade. “I enjoy playing the game, being around my teammates and having fun.”

It has been reported that in his past senior season he set a new boys varsity school record with 1,065 points scored. As a freshman, Ip earned a place on the freshman team, and also played one junior varsity game, and one varsity game in which he scored 15 points. He finished the season on the freshman team but was on the varsity team the rest of his Rosemead career.

As a sophomore, Ip earned Mission Valley League (MVL) Second Team honors, and MVL First Team honors his junior and senior years. This past season as a senior he was considered in voting for Most Valuable Player and did earn a MVL Scholar Athlete Award.

Ip also was involved with Associated Student Body (ASB) at Rosemead High School, and was ASB Vice President one semester as a senior. He said he also liked being in BAGATHS, a community service club at the school. The club does beach and park cleanups and raises money walking in charity walks and other projects.

“I prefer to let my actions do my talking,” continued Ip. “There wasn’t a diving team at Rosemead so nothing was said about me diving. It was Ivan the basketball player, which gets a lot of support at Rosemead, not Ivan the diver.”

He learned a lot playing for a few years for Monterey Park Mustangs club basketball team. “When I was younger they helped me improve my basketball skills and influenced me like my parents to be a better person.” Ip also said his brother Dylan and cousin Jeffrey Tsai were good at giving him suggestions that pushed him to be better.

“I want to give a big shout out to my parents for their support, Rosemead High School teacher Brian Aliff helping me learn how to balance my academics and athletics and to Rosemead High School Head Coach Sonny Hayes for believing in me and allowing me playing time, especially earlier in my career at Rosemead.

“I would like to emphasize how important it is to surround yourself with people that have the same goals or drive as you do because no one will ever succeed on their own. We will need friends to help us on the road to success. So choose your friends wisely because they will be a big factor in whether you achieve your goals.”

Now he is Brown bound, humble and appreciative for his parents and others, hoping to help Brown and let the people back home know about what a good diver this basketball player is becoming.

Rosemead High School Class of 2017 Graduate Ivan Ip and his mom Sally Luu at signing of papers for Ip to attend Brown University and perform on its diving team.