NorthWood’s Caden Jenkins qualified for the IHSAA State Finals in diving. (File photo by Mike Deak)

MISHAWAKA – It’s been quite a run for Caden Jenkins this season.

After winning his first-ever Northern Lakes Conference diving championship, the NorthWood junior one-upped himself by winning his first-ever sectional championship last weekend. Now Jenkins is getting one more chance to go after a state title.

Jenkins scored a 366.15 to finish fifth Tuesday night at the Penn Diving Regional, landing within the top eight places to advance to the IHSAA State Finals this weekend in Indianapolis.

Jenkins is making his second appearance at the State Finals, placing 31st last year as a sophomore. Jenkins placed 10th in the regional as a freshman.

Jack Schwartz of Valparaiso led the way at Penn, scoring a 469.75 series to run away as the regional champion. Zach Ramacci of Lake Central was second at 404.60. Also advancing from the Penn Regional were Morgan Molenaar of Rensselar Central, Aaron Leas of Concord, Noah Sears and Henry Gatzemeyer of Elkhart Central and Peter Gondeck of Michigan City. Jenkins, Leas and the Central pair all qualified from the regional from the Northridge sectional.

Qualifiers from the Warsaw didn’t fare so well, all four landing outside the top 15. Justin Moser of Plymouth, Kadin Kelly of Rochester, Reid Omilian of Culver Academy and Roland Trusty of Cass all were eliminated in the semi-finals.

Diving at the IHSAA State Finals begin Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with preliminaries and conclude with the finals in the afternoon.