New IU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Sara Reiling-Hildebrand wasn't born to become a Hoosier diving legend.
She grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota - nearly a 10-hour drive from Bloomington - and at first embraced gymnastics at a young age before switching to diving.
As her high school diving career progressed, she took four official visits - Tennessee, Texas, Ohio State and Indiana.
Initially divided between the Vols and the Hoosiers, she opted for the cream and crimson.
"There were a couple different thing that went into it," Hildebrand said. "I knew [diving coach] Jeff Huber ahead of time and felt really comfortable with the team. They were just easy to get along with.
“Academic-wise, I felt like I had all the support at IU that I needed. It was all-around campus and not just one location.”
Eight conference titles, three Big Ten Diver of the Year awards and 10 All-American honors later, Hildebrand would say she made the right choice.
Now those accolades - plus individual bids to the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2004 Athens Games, among other honors - earned her the distinction of joining the IU Athletics Hall of Fame this year, alongside five other inductees.
When Hildebrand comes to Bloomington this weekend for the induction ceremony, she'll be joined by her husband, Butch - a former Indiana wrestler - and their two children, Lily (10) and Delaney (9).
So while Hildebrand means the world to Indiana University, the school also means much to her.
She met her husband in Bloomington, which eventually led to the start of raising a family. She's also quick to praise the school for both the help and coaching she received to help her athletic accomplishments, as well as shine in academics.
“I wouldn’t have went to the Olympics without the all-around support IU provided," she said. "That 100 percent was why I was able to reach the accomplishments I did.
"You can’t go to a Big Ten school and take on an athletic role and not walk away with great academics too. I wouldn’t have finished as high as I did with my academics if I didn’t have the structure – and the demand – that’s expected. I would not be anywhere near where I am today – the teacher I am, or the coach that I am – without Huber and all the support at IU."
Her day-to-day life now consists of supporting her two children.
Both are involved in sports, including gymnastics, soccer and softball. Hildebrand herself has been coaching gymnastics, although with the family's recent move to California, she's been focused on getting the children settled.
The girls might even check out the competitive pool soon, but there's been no mention of a diving board yet. If the subject does come up, Hildebrand is adamant she will leave that choice up to them.
"They love swimming,” she said of her kids. “We had a pool in Florida, so when they had the possibility to get in, they’re in. They’re little fish.
"But as far as the diving side, neither one of them have shown any interest in it – and I’m okay with it.
“My husband thinks Lily will eventually steer that way. If she does, great. If she doesn’t, I won’t be heartbroken. It’s such a hard thing to follow. I don’t want it to be like you’re following in mom’s steps. If she does it, I want it to be on her terms, whatever she does with it.”
That same concept applies to the children's far distant choices the same as their imminent ones. Despite both Sara and Butch being former Hoosier athletes, she doesn't plan to push Indiana on them too hard.
"I don’t want them to feel like they have to go to IU because we went there,” she said. “I don’t ever want them to feel like they have to follow in footsteps. I want them to make their own footsteps; their own path.”
Still, Lily and Delaney are already making Bloomington memories on their own. This weekend won't be the children's first time in town.
The family visited the school three or four years ago, according to Hildebrand, and during that trip Lily picked up a pair of one of the Hoosiers' basketball players shoes - a size 17.
"We turned them sideways and they were just about as long as her," Hildebrand laughed. "She didn’t want to hold them at first, but we were like come on, they’re huge! She finally did, and we died laughing."
While Lily and Delaney make newer Bloomington memories - including attending the IU-Maryland game to watch their mother be recognized at halftime - Hildebrand is looking forward to catching up with friends and her former coach.
"I’m excited to see Huber," she said. "I haven’t seen him in six or seven years and I don’t talk to him as often as I would like to.
"But we communicate every now and then. I'm excited to see who else will be there too."
As far as advice she'd pass on to aspiring athletes, Hildebrand says success starts with knowing how to fight through adversity, as well as challenging yourself and staying committed to whatever objective you set.
"You can’t have success without getting through obstacles and hurdles," she said. "Knowing you’re on the right track, but staying focused on your goal and putting yourself through difficult things will get you where you want to be.
"Nothing comes easy if it’s a high level goal.”
Sara Reiling-Hildebrand is one of six Indiana Athletics Hall of Famers to be inducted over the Oct. 28 weekend. Check back with TheHoosier.com for features on each of the new members prior to the weekend.
