Walls, Dunn Dive to Titles

As the top two finishers in the San Diego Section boys’ diving championship called it, one had the judges, the other the crowd.

But it was Mark Dunn who had the backing--and dives--to win his first title. Dunn, a Mt. Carmel senior, defeated Poway junior Jonathan Gale, 378.60 to 373.65, Friday at UC San Diego’s Canyon View Pool.

“You had the support of the crowd,” Dunn said to Gale.

“Yeah, but you had the support of the judges,” Gale countered.

In girls’ competition, Monte Vista’s Kristen Walls won her second consecutive title and scored 450.85 points, shattering the section record of 436.95 set by Santana’s Eileen Maul in 1987.

“Winning CIF was certainly my goal,” said Walls, “but ever since last year, (breaking the record) was my goal.”

Walls’ title was never in question. The senior, who will attend UCLA on a diving scholarship, hit each dive in the 11 rounds with Lisa Simmonds, her L.A. Dive Club coach, encouraging her from poolside.

“She took me through all my dives,” Walls said. “That really helped. She was able to pay all her attention to me.”

Far back were Erin Hoese of Point Loma and Kelli Manion of Mt. Carmel, second and third with 383.25 and 383.05 points.

Walls saved her best dives for last, finishing with an inward 1 1/2 pike and a forward 1 1/2 with a full twist, both earning her high marks.

“I saved my most consistent dives for last,” Walls said. “That was my strategy all along.”

Dunn, second here last year, also ended his meet with a old favorite. He nailed his final effort, a back dive straight, to secure the victory.

“I wanted to end my meet with my back dive,” Dunn said. “It’s a dive I rely on.

Dunn recently won the Palomar League diving title and hadn’t lost a dual meet this season. He said he knew he and Gale would be the ones chasing the title; others have only managed to come within 30 or 40 points of them in dual meets. Well back in third was Dean Hanson of Santana with 329.70 points.

“I didn’t think anyone else would be close to us,” Dunn said.

Of Gale, who was fourth here last year, Dunn said: “He’ll be the guy to beat next year.”