MODESTO, Calif. – Junior Molly Wilson defended her Sac-Joaquin Section diving title on Saturday at Johansen High School to earn a berth in the CIF State Diving Championships.

“I worked really hard this season,” said Wilson. “It feels good to win. I could have done better and I was starting to get a little down on myself. But with my last two dives I let it go and had fun with it.”

Wilson scored a 422.15 to edge Rachel Choi of Rio Americano by 3.35 points over the 11-dive competition. Melia Stout of Granite Bay was third with a 398.15 and Ally Peterson of Vintage was fourth with a score of 364.85.

“None of them had their best day,” said Head Coach Dede Crayne of the top divers. “But Molly pulled it off when she had to. She started strong, faltered a little in the middle and came back in the end. I like the way she can come back from an off dive and continue perform well enough to win.”

Wilson is the fourth student-athlete in school history to win the section diving title, joining Reagan Reber (2001-03), Ashley Haney (2004) and Amy Crayne (2010, 2012). She is the second to win back-to-back titles and third to win two or more individual crowns.

Wilson entered the day as the top favorite after recording the best score in trials on Thursday, watching 15 divers go in each round before taking her turn on the boards.

“I didn’t want to go after Rachel because she is really good,” said Wilson.

Wilson was focused throughout the meet, determined to prepare mentally for each dive.

“I pretend I am at practice and go through how I would normally do it and not stress myself out to much,” said Wilson. “I was pacing back and forth and it helped me stay calm to not focus on anything else.”

Wilson was joined by teammate and classmate Julia Endicott in the 16-diver final. Endicott finished 10^th overall with a score of 310.50.

“I thought today was really fun and it was good weather,” said Endicott. “I did pretty well and was pretty consistent through all my dives. It was a good day.”

St. Francis joined Rio Americano as the only two schools with two divers in the top 10 in the section.

“I feel good and excited,” said Endicott. “It was a cool opportunity to be here and I am lucky I got to come and compete here. I am looking forward to next year and being with my friends and (Coach) Dede.”

Crayne said Endicott had one of her best meets of the season.

“Julia had a very good performance for her and I think she performed to the best of her ability,” said Crayne. “She did a very good job and she had prom to race off to her. I appreciated she was here and focused to do her best and then run off to have some fun.”

Wilson will compete at the CIF Diving Championships on Friday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. She will competing at the state championships for the second consecutive season, the first Troubie to represent the school twice at the Championships. She finished 16^th last season.

“I just want to do better than I did last year,” said Wilson. “I think I psyched myself out last year at states. I am going to hope to do better this year.”