San Diego Section Diving : Maul Wins Again, but Not Easily

After she won the San Diego Section diving championship two years ago as a freshman, Eileen Maul of Santana High School figured things could only get easier the next three years.

But Maul never figured on the rapid growth of diving in San Diego County.

Maul won her third straight section diving championship Friday at Helix High School, but she had to battle a tight field of 12 divers in the final three dives.

Maul earned 436.95 points in 11 dives to break the section record of 424.70 points set by Nina Fodor of Mt. Carmel in 1984. Monte Vista’s Kristen Walls, who finished second last year, was second again with 425.75 points. Erin Hoese of Point Loma was third with 398.30.

All three earned more than 385 points, making them eligible for All-American consideration.

In the boys’ championship, Tom Reed, a junior from Santana, won with 375.90 points. Poway’s Greg Stampfli was second with 319.85 and Mt. Carmel’s Mark Dunn third with 312.25.

“When I was a freshman, I thought, ‘This isn’t that bad,’ ” Maul said. “But during league meets last year, I saw it was getting harder and I said, ‘Wait a minute.’ . . . I can’t wait to see it next year.”

Maul attributes the higher caliber of competition to the birth of a year-round diving program called Dive San Diego.

Maul and most of the 12 finalists Friday participate in the program, which began last August, at sites around the county. Before Dive San Diego, most divers competed only during the school season.

“Last year, there were more people who were diving well (at the section meet),” Walls said. “This year, though, it seemed like there were a lot more people diving better.”

Maul and Walls were nursing injuries Friday. Maul had her left wrist wrapped because of a slight sprain she suffered competing in gymnastics earlier this month.

Walls slipped off the diving board at the final regular-season meet two weeks ago, cutting her right shin. The injury required 20 stitches, and she was told by her doctor that she would not be able to compete for four weeks.

“When she heard that, she just broke down and cried,” said John Walls, Kristen’s father.

John Walls took Kristen to E. Lee Rice, team doctor for the San Diego Chargers, for a second opinion. Rice said Walls could compete in 10 days. That allowed for two days of practice before to the championship.

Maul’s best dive Friday came during the eighth round, when she earned 21 points for her back somersault, 2 1/2 twist. The dive has a 2.7 degree of difficulty, the highest for high school diving.

Maul dived immediately after Walls in the final round and said it may have been an advantage.

“It makes me work a little harder after seeing what (Walls) did,” Maul said. “When she nailed her dives, I just knew I had to do a little better.”

Results Girls--Eileen Maul (Santana) 436.95; Kristen Walls (Monte Vista) 425.75; Erin Hoese (Point Loma) 398.30; Cynthia Tredwell (Coronado) 372.80; Kim Miller (Poway) 368.70; Bonny Waters (Valhalla) 352.85; Becky Zollinger (Helix) 339.25; Kimberly Lofft (Mira Mesa) 333.60; Dana Dodd (Poway) 332.55; Julie Bobb (Helix) 319.20; Tasha Godfrey (Valhalla) 307.15; Amy Linn Kraynik (Helix) 296.00.

Boys--Tom Reed (Santana) 375.90; Greg Stampfli (Poway) 319.85; Mark Dunn (Mt. Carmel) 312.25; Jesse Miller (Grossmont) 311.05; Brent Reed (Santana) 293.80; Erik Devereaux (Bonita Vista) 293.80; Jonathan Gale (Mt. Carmel) 288.15; Marco Medina (Mt. Carmel) 283.65; Mike Moran (Mt. Carmel) 260.95; Michael Harding (Poway) 252.70; Justus Jondai (Bonita Vista) 232.45; Steve Norby (Monte Vista) 225.25.