Schlabach did tumbling in elementary school and did not survive until she entered high school. She said that she landed right on her face the first time she went off a board. After graduating from Fairfield High School, Schlabach attended the University of Cincinnati as a nursing major. Schlabach was one of the top divers in the Cincinnati Bearcats swimming and diving team. She earned a full athletic scholarship after she won 8th place in the NCAA Championships, where she earned an All-America title in 1986. She was named female diver of the year in 1986 by the Metro Conference and during the same year, she was a finalist in the 1 meter board competition at the U.S. Diving Championships.[2]
Schlabach moved to Michigan in December 1989 after meeting University of Michigan coach Dick Kimball at an Olympic Festival. Kimball asked her to join his team and Schlabach found a job at the Michigan Medical Center. Once she improved her diving, she began to work less hours. During days that she worked, Schlabach trained from 4:10 to 6:00 PM, arrive at work by 7:00 PM, stay there till 7:30 AM, and then travel back to the pool to train until 9:30. Schlabach later competed at the FINA Diving World Cup in Canada.[3]
