SOUTH PARK TWP — Ben Lowery understands that a poorly executed dive can end in pain.

But that’s never going to stop the Knoch sophomore from trying to push the envelope. His mindset won’t allow it.

“I know what I have to get done and I go for it. Even if that means you smack (the water) and get hurt,” Lowery said. “That’s what you have to do. You can’t progress unless you have that fearless, gung-ho mindset.”

Fighting off nerves, Lowery finished with a 329.80 to place fourth at the WPIAL Class AA diving championships Friday night at South Park High School. The top nine divers advance to the PIAA championships at Bucknell University March 14.

Lowery was one of two local divers to earn their first bid to the state tournament. Mars freshman Taylor Hockenberry, who finished with a 429.80, finished second to Mohawk’s McKenzie Steller.

“I will say that today wasn’t the best of days for me. You can always get better,” Lowery said. “Coming out today and stepping on that board, I was nervous because I had a goal I wanted to reach.”

Knoch diving coach Ken Bedford said Lowery is a perfect fit for the sport.

“He’s strong and he’s fearless,” Bedford said. “He does what he needs to do.”

Hockenberry said she was confident she could make it to states, but didn’t have a specific place in mind.

“I was just really glad that I could dive and had an 11-dive list,” Hockenberry said. “I practice a lot, which helped.”

Hockenberry felt her best two dives were the front-double somersault and the inward one-and-a-half. Hockenberry was able to fight off her nerves by staying strong mentally.

“I like to visualize the dives before I do them,” Hockenberry said. “I just wanted to do the best I could.”

Knights sophomores Brandon Grumski and Shane Frishkorn finished in 16th and 18th place.

Mars freshman Isabel Wroblewski finished 10th, just missing out on qualifying.