RECognition: Ivy Goodwin, Aquatics

Recreation's monthly series to celebrate our staff

By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

There aren’t too many people who can claim to have met Olympic athletes and Flavor Flav on the same day.

Consider Ivy Goodwin at the center of that exceptionally unique Venn diagram.

Ivy, a graduating senior in Thurgood Marshall College, was sitting thisclose to the US women’s Olympic water polo team when they played a pre-Games tune-up against Italy at Canyonview in 2024. Flavor Flav, one-half of the rap group Public Enemy, was acting as a hype man for the squad, taking in his first water polo game.

“I was asked to get Sharpies for him to sign things, and he gave me a hug and said thank you,” Ivy says. “I think he was wearing a custom USA clock around his neck. During the game, I also asked him if he could sign a water polo ball for the Women's Club Water Polo team, and he was happy to.”

Ivy, who holds the role of Lead Diver for the UC Recreation Aquatics department, was also able to connect with current Olympians on the US team. It’s a memory that she’ll never forget, she says.

“I also sat in on a conversation with Ashleigh Johnson — the goalie of the team — which was super cool because I have been a long-time fan of hers,” she says.  “The whole experience was really surreal.”

The Olympians’ visit to campus was just one of many memories Ivy has forged during her time with Recreation. Ivy started working for REC in 2022, following in the footsteps of her sister, who Aquatics also employed. “I saw how fulfilled she had become with her position,” Ivy says.

Today, her work as Lead Diver is one of the main reasons why our pools receive so many accolades regarding their presentation and cleanliness, says Aquatics Director Jason Dillon.

“Her team of SCUBA divers tirelessly removes algae, cleans grout lines, replaces underwater lights, and patches plaster almost every day of the week and regardless of the weather conditions,” Jason says.

It’s a labor of love for Ivy. She earned SCUBA certification with her older sister, Celeste, when she was 12, was then Junior Open Water certified, and received her advanced certification a few years ago. She’s done just-for-fun dives in La Jolla, Mexico, and Catalina. Whether she’s on the clock or off it, Ivy can usually be found at Canyonview, swimming with friends, or practicing and playing for the UCSD Women’s Club Water Polo team. 

“I played on the water polo team for three years (sophomore through senior year),” Ivy says. “I have been the Vice President this past year and was also asked to be a captain, so it has been super exciting to take on more roles within the team.”

Macey Kadifa, Ivy’s coach during her time with the Tritons, says she’s seen Ivy lead “with humility, strength, and tireless dedication.”

"She’s always the first to arrive, the last to leave, and never hesitates to step up wherever she’s needed,” Kadifa says. “Her commitment to her teammates and genuine love for the Triton community have made her an important part of our program and UCSD Recreation."

 After graduation, Ivy will take some time to enjoy the San Diego summer at the beaches before embarking on a backpacking trip in Sequoia National Park. She hopes to dive into the professional world in the medical devices field next year.

When she does leave Canyonview for the final time this summer, she’ll have plenty to reflect on.

“My favorite part about working in REC is the community I have built,” Ivy says. “I have found people in Aquatics who share my passions and interests, and we have become instant friends. I will forever treasure the friends I have met through Aquatics!”

And that doesn’t even count Flavor Flav.