SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Molly Wilson won the Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Championship and will represent St. Francis at the CIF State Diving Championships.

“It feels really, really good,” said Wilson after the awards ceremony. “I did pretty well and did my dives as best as I can.”

Wilson, who is from Carmichael, started diving just a year ago and was named Most Improved Diver at the school’s banquet as a freshman. She has been competing in gymnastics since she was two years old and picked up the sport after a friend suggested she try it.

“It is really fun and I Ioved it right away,” said Wilson, who competes for Fliptastic! Gymnastics, Cheer and Dance in Carmichael.

“Her mom asked me to work with her one day to see if she could be on the team,” said Head Coach Dede Crayne. “I knew right away she could. In all my club coaching with Capital Divers, she is my hardest working girl right now. She never misses practice and takes every opportunity she can to be on the diving boards. You can see it pay off for her.”

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).

“It feels really good to make it so far,” said Wilson.

Julia Coss was the first student-athlete to compete at the state meet last year.

“I have been coaching for a while and Molly has reached a level where you can count on her dives,” said Crayne. “They are very consistent and it is very rare that she misses something. Being consistent for 11 dives in a row is what makes you the champion. You don’t have to hit everything perfect but you can’t miss anything. That is Molly. She has put in the time and effort to get there.”

Wilson scored 430.60 to defeat Natasha Sondeno (Pitman), who tallied 427.95. Rachel Choi from Rio Americano was third with a score of 424.35, while Alisha Miller from St. Mary’s was fourth with a tally of 396.85. The top four divers advanced to the state meet.

Senior Tiffany Wong, who will dive for UC San Diego in the fall, was fifth overall and the first alternate with a score of 380.95.

“We are going to miss Tiffany,” said Crayne. “She is smiling consistently and is the most cheerful and happy girl to coach. She never has a bad day and is a great example for everyone else.”

Sophomore Julia Endicott finished second in the Frosh-Soph finals with a score 336.25.

The second annual CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships will be held May 20-21 at Clovis Olympic Swim Complex at Clovis West High School in Clovis.

ALL-TIME ST. FRANCIS SECTION DIVING CHAMPIONS

2001 Raegan Reber (St. Francis) 441.55

2002 Raegan Reber (St. Francis) 494.45

2003 Raegan Reber (St. Francis) 497.95

2004 Ashley Haney (St. Francis) 414.00

2010 Amy Crayne (St. Francis) 454.40

2012 Amy Crayne (St. Francis) 469.65

2016 Molly Wilson (St. Francis) 430.60