Pitman’s Sondeno takes fourth at section diving, advances to inaugural state meet
Pitman High School junior Natasha Sondeno made local history Saturday at the Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Finals at Johansen.
Sondeno placed fourth and became the first Stanislaus District swimmer or diver to qualify for the inaugural CIF State Championships. She will compete May 22-23 at the Clovis West Aquatic Complex.
Only the top four from the section advanced to state, and Sondeno squeaked in with 382.65 points after the 11-dive competition, ahead of fifth-place Rachell Choi of Rio Americano. Mikaela Lujan of Nevada Union was the champion with 483.55 points.
“It’s definitely exciting to go on to state,” said Sondeno, who placed third last year at the section meet. “I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at.”
Sondeno, a member of the Delta Valley Divers of Stockton who has competed for the Junior Olympics 14-15 national team, hoped for a higher finish after she won the trials on Thursday.
“I hit most of my dives, but I wasn’t happy with a couple,” she said. “I was nervous. It was a little nerve-racking competing against your friends.”
Logan Jackson of Manteca placed 13th with 274.5, followed in 14th by Gregori’s Cammi Baumann with 255.75. Ashton Espino of Merced was 15th with 240.9, and teammate Andrea Arredondo was 16th with 224.25.
In the boys division, Todd Alden of Will C. Wood won with 532.1 points. Matthew Belton of Golden Valley was 14th with 191.6 points, and Cameron Willform of Modesto was 15th with 190.25.
Josh Hamby of Pitman was the frosh-soph boys champion.
The Section Swimming Championships will be held Thursday through Saturday at Tokay High in Lodi.
College tennis
Diamond honored – Cal State Stanislaus sophomore J’Ana Diamond has been named to the All-Pacific West Conference women’s tennis team. Diamond, of Santee, played mostly at No. 1 or No. 2 for the Warriors; she compiled a 12-5 record in singles and won her final seven matches.
This story was originally published May 9, 2015 at 10:34 PM with the headline "Pitman’s Sondeno takes fourth at section diving, advances to inaugural state meet."