Font ResizeAnd with good reason. The defending champ entered the final round of three dives in fifth place, with only the top three girls making it to the PIAA championships in two weeks.
Solid on her ninth dive, Dickson was superb on her 10th effort, scoring 44 points that moved her up to third.
The momentum led to a stellar final dive in which Dickson added 41.60 points. Her total of 375.05 was good enough for a silver medal and her third straight trip to states.
"That 10th dive felt really good. I knew that would help me in the rankings," she said. "I did know I was in fifth. I was nervous for my last two dives. As soon as I went in the water on that last dive, I felt better."
Trinity freshman Ashley Buchter took over the competition after her fourth dive and went on to amass 423 points en route to gold.
Once Buchter took charge, one of the few remaining questions was, which Dover diver would finish in what place as the Eagle trio of Courtney Gress, Laura Rowlands and Morgan Stambaugh were all having good nights.
Rowlands hung around in second place much of the night until Gress jumped over her fellow senior with a 41.40 on her eighth dive.
With the freshman Stambaugh staying on both of her mates' heals, Gress managed to hold on to third with
"My goal was to try my hardest and see where it took me," Gress said. "I have been working hard. Laura has been a help throughout the season."
Like most of the season, the trio finished within 30 points of each other as Rowlands' score of 358.65 was good for fourth, and Stambaugh's 340.00 scored a fifth-place medal.
Dover diving coach Jen Rauhauser, who was a district champ herself in 2001, was amazed at a 3-4-5 finish.
"I am on top of the world," she said. "Courtney started in June and in November, she didn't have half the dives. Me, as a diver, could never have done what she did."
Unfortunately, finishing fourth left Rowlands just shy of a fourth trip to states and she closed out her brilliant career on a sad note, but is able to look forward to track.
"She has been a great role model for everyone," Rauhauser said of Rowlands. "Laura is the reason Courtney got into diving."
The YAIAA also notched a medal in the boys' competition as Northeastern's Bryan Hopkins placed sixth.
Hopkins, a senior, scored 260.20 points, the second-best total of his career, which is pretty good considering he didn't take up the sport until his junior year.
"If I would have started as a freshman I would be so much better," he said. "My goal was to make it to states, or finish in the top 5."
Still, Hopkins said that he was not disappointed. As the first diver of the night, he opened the meet with a 34.10, which held first place through the first round.
Plus, Hopkins will get to swim at next weekend's District 3 Class AA meet as a part of the Bobcats 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Northeastern's Craig Slanker (248.05) finished ninth in the boys meet that was won by Tanner Wilfong of Hershey (419.05).
snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060
