It's the small things that he's looking for: the slightest degree of change in the angle of his body as he enters the water; a small bend in one knee as he rotates midair; separation between his arms and his torso when he completes a twist.
Those little miscues represent points, Rosemount diver Daniel Monaghan said. They can be the difference between a win and a loss. On a bigger scale, they could be the difference between him defending his Class 2A state diving title at season's end, or not.
They're all visible on the videos of his dives that he watches — and re-watches — again and again when he gets home after each meet.
"He's very precise," Irish diving coach Dane Dzubinski said. "He pays attention to all of it, every little detail, which is so crucial in diving."
That's one reason that Monaghan is looked at as the favorite when gold medals are handed out March 1 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Monaghan's prowess also is a reason No. 7-ranked Rosemount has another chance for a high placing.
Steady climb
Monaghan's progress in the last four seasons has been obvious. Dzubinski said he and Rosemount head coach Tami Carlson are "constantly amazed" at the new levels he reaches.
Monaghan broke the school's 11-dive meet record Saturday with a 465.05 performance that won the Eau Claire (Wis.) Invitational by more than 120 points. He was just eight points shy of besting the school's six-dive record on Tuesday.
Monaghan takes it in stride. Well, actually, he expects it.