SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior diver Patty Sullivan has always known how to flip. As a former gymnast, she made the transition to diving during her freshmen season. On Wednesday, she will sign with UC San Diego to continue her career on the boards.

“I am really excited,” said Sullivan. “I always wanted to do a sport in college because I like the team aspect. Being able to dive in college is a really big thing for me.”

After a nine-year career in gymnastics, Sullivan continues to get better with each season.

 “You are always learning,” said Sullivan about diving. “You learn your dives but there is always room for improvement.”

She contributes her success in the sport to her gymnastics background.

“You have a lot of air awareness and how to control your body, be tight and come out,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan, who is from Sacramento, says her favorite dives are inwards and reverses. She has been one of the top divers for the Troubadours. She recently was the top diver in a Delta League meet, posting a score of 218.35. She finished ninth at the section meet in 2014 and has bigger goals this season.

 “I would really like to make it section finals,” said Sullivan. “If I made it to state, it would be cool.”

Sullivan will dive for coach Michelle Casillas, who is in her fifth season with the school. Both the UCSD men’s and women’s squads won their sixth consecutive Pacific Collegiate Swimming & Diving Conference (PCSC) titles in 2014. Casillas took four of her divers, three men and sophomore Allyson Cohen, to the 2014 NCAA Championships.

“The coach emailed my club coach and she mentioned me,” said Sullivan. “I got in contact with the coach and went down for an official visit and fell in love with the school and the team.”

She plans to study human biology at UCSD.

“I have met some of my best friends from diving,” said Sullivan. “Diving is not as competitive as other sports. In meets, everyone is together and you meet all kinds of people.”

Sullivan will participate in a ceremony at St. Francis starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.