MOON TWP — Taylor Hockenberry’s effort was worth more than a WPIAL title.

The Mars sophomore managed a score of 506.50 at the Class AA Girls Diving Championship meet Wednesday afternoon at Moon High School, breaking the old standard of 505.45 set by Shady Side Academy’s Brittany Garza in 1998.

“To see all the hard work and practice I put in pay off, it feels great,” said Hockenberry, who was runner-up as a freshman. “I was feeling strong today and thought I used the board well.”

Her dominant performance actually began before Wednesday’s competition got under way.

“She was phenomenal in warm-ups,” said Mars coach Maria Misenhelter. “That’s where it started for her.”

Misenhelter then witnessed Hockenberry’s championship form during her first few dives.

“Her early dives were right on,” she said. “She knew it and that bumped her confidence up. I’m so proud of her.”

“I was happy with my first few dives, but thought they could’ve been better,” said Hockenberry. “I’m a perfectionist.”

Breaking the WPIAL Class AA record was not on Hockenberry’s mind until just before her 11th and final dive — a back one-and-a-half somersault, one-and-a-half twist.

“My goal coming in was to break 500, but I knew if I executed that last dive, I had a chance to break the record,” she said.

Hockenberry nailed it and dove right into the WPIAL record book.

While she is enjoying her most recent effort, Hockenberry is setting to prepare for her next one. She’ll compete at next month’s state championship meet, her second trip to Bucknell University in as many seasons.

“I’m headed back to practice Thursday (at the University of Pittsburgh),” she said. “I train with some of the other divers who placed high (at WPIALs) and I am excited to go to states with them.”

Mars had three other divers competing at Moon. Isabel Wroblewski finished ninth, Mikayla Tiller was 12th and Madison Caruso 14th.

In the boys competition, Knoch junior Ben Lowery placed third with a score of 424.20. Uniontown senior Braden Carei won the district title with a 461.0.

Lowery’s effort earned him a spot at the state meet.

Knoch’s Shane Frishkorn placed 15th.