Pitman diver Natasha Sondeno qualifies for CIF finals

Natasha Sondeno left Clovis without a medal on Friday afternoon.

Instead, her take-home prize was lunch with family and friends and a season-best score.

“Hey, I can’t complain,” she said. “I had a solid meet. I’m happy.”

Sondeno finished 16th out of 28 divers and qualified for the finals at the first-ever CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships at Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.

Olivia Rosendahl of Immaculate Heart (Los Angeles) won the 1-meter competition with a 517.50. Rosendahl, who will dive for Northwestern next year, has qualified for the Olympic Trials.

Sondeno could read the room. She knew what she was up against.

The former gymnast also knew she had nothing to lose.

“I had a pretty solid meet. It was a lot less stressful than sections because you didn’t have to qualify for anything. You already made it,” Sondeno said. “Today was about seeing how far I could go and how well I could do.”

Her score of 411.50 was a season best, according to her club coach Robert Wimberly of Delta Valley Diving, and it was nearly 40 points better than her qualifying score.

Sondeno began the day seeded 22nd but improved her place with clean reverses and a steady set of voluntary dives. A mere three points separated her from the 14th-place finisher.

Sondeno qualified for state by placing fourth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Finals on May 9 at Johansen High School in Modesto.

This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Pitman diver Natasha Sondeno qualifies for CIF finals."