In soccer, a player has 10 teammates on the field with them.

In basketball, there’s 4 more people on the court.

In a swim relay, there are 3 other swimmers.

But when it comes to the girls’ diving team competing in Monday’s 5A Region III Meet at Frisco’s Bruce Eubanks Natatorium, there’s just one.

It’s the smallest team on campus.

On the boys’ side, it’s freshman Vihaan Pol.

On the girls’ side, it’s sophomore Aubrey Henderson. 

For Pol the season is over, but for Henderson it continues in the region meet with a chance at state on the line.

As the only diver on the girls’ team, Henderson is a team of one. 

“So it is frustrating because I ride the bus by myself,” Aubrey said. “I am by myself pretty much any time, it’s just me.”

That can add an extra challenge to competing according to Frisco ISD diving coach Claudia Sunday. 

But Sunday believes that Aubrey has great mental focus.

“She’s very strong, very strong, but knowing that you are the sole person representing your school, it’s a lot of pressure,” Sunday said. “So she’s tough and she’s got a lot of perseverance and she’s got great mental focus.”

The results illustrate Aubrey’s focus.

In just her second year diving, Aubrey has gone from near the bottom of the district meet to near the top, finishing 2nd in the District 10-5A meet on Jan. 19.

“So to go from 8th place, it’s really major progress,” Aubrey said. “So I’m hoping by the end of my junior year I should be same place first and second.”

Mom, Staci Henderson, has noticed Aubrey’s development, which has led to more confidence.

“She’s really progressed a lot this year and she’s taking on some new challenges with some of her new dives,” Staci said. “So it’s been really fun and she definitely has more confidence this year.”

Part of this comes from her work ethic according to Sunday.

Sunday believes Aubrey is one of the hardest working students she’s ever had.

“Everything was brand new to her, and that’s not typical a lot of kids come in with at least some gymnastics background, and she didn’t have any of that,” Sunday said. “So everything she has learned has been from scratch. and she’s one of the hardest working student-athletes that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Now, just one year after placing 8th at the district meet, Aubrey is competing in the regional finals and is looking to get to state.

“So top three make it to state and according to this meet and how things went, top one and two are pretty much solidified,” Aubrey said. “The best goal would be third place maybe fourth place.”