Somers' Wilkinson Named Academic and Athletic All-American

SOMERS, N.Y. - Somers' Julia Wilkinson wrapped up her high school diving career as a two-time All-American and Academic All-American.

The NISCA All America distinction is one of the highest honors for a high school varsity athlete, where each year the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) selects the top divers in the country through a stringent process based on their performance in an 11-dive competition. Wilkinson has earned the title two years in a row in addition to an AAU Diving All America title for her performance at the AAU Nationals Championship in San Antonio in 2022.

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The Academic All America is awarded to high school seniors for their outstanding performance in academics and athletics. Wilkinson was the only diver from Section 1 to earn both the All America and the Academic All America this year.

“I am so honored and thankful to receive these recognitions,” said Wilkinson. “It’s more than what I had hoped for in my last high school season and in my diving career overall. The whole experience working towards my goals has taught me so much, and I am thankful for all the opportunities that I was given.”

Wilkinson started as a gymnast under USA Gymnastics, competing at the state level. She then switched to diving when she was 12. The multi-sport athlete continued as a swimmer and diver in middle school and high school, securing titles and setting records along the way. The Tusker leaves Somers High School for Cornell University in August as the 6-dive and 11-dive Yorktown/Somers Swim and Dive program record holder, a two-time Section 1 Dive Champion and NYSPHSAA and Federation championships’ top 4 diver in the state. She was also recently named SHS’s 2023–2024 Most Outstanding Female Athlete.

Academically, the senior was one of the recipients of the Somers Faculty Association Award for Academic Excellence. She was also this year’s recipient of the prestigious Con Edison Scholar Athlete Sports Award, that acknowledges students for their excellence in sports, academics, and community service. This award was also received by her brother Jay Wilkinson last year, who is currently a rising sophomore at Tufts University in Boston.

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Excelling both in the pool and in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and making the high honor roll every quarter, along with AP and other advanced-level courses, secured a spot at Cornell University to fulfill her Ivy League dream. Wilkinson will be part of the Cornell Swimming & Diving team competing as an NCAA Division 1 athlete this fall.

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