Barring another freak injury, North Tonawanda’s Eric Wilson will get a second shot at states.

Wilson, who injured his hand just days before last year’s state championships, finished third at the Niagara Frontier League Diving Championships Friday night at North Tonawanda, punching his ticket to states with a 425.95.

“I’m definitely happy to qualify again,” Wilson said. “I’m really looking to make up for what happened last year.”

Niagara Falls’ Austin Devlin won the event with a score of 489.10 while Lew-Port’s Ryan Monteleone took second with a 463.15.

“I’ve been a little sick this week, so that wasn’t exactly the greatest score, but luckily it was kind of consistent,” Wilson said. “I’d really like to improve from here.”

Devlin headed into Friday night’s NFLs poised to capture his fourth-straight league title.

And while he topped the field once again this season, it sure didn’t come easy.

Devlin held off Monteleone, 489.19-463.15.

“It’s impressive. I think it’s our deepest event as a league,” Niagara Falls coach Ed Maynard said. “Last year we had (eight) that went to states in diving. For the little NFL league sending a couple, two, three divers, it’s pretty good. We could potentially sending five kids from the NFLs, so that’s impressive.”

Devlin, a senior, also punched his ticket to the state championships for the fourth consecutive year. Niagara Falls’ Jaron Williams (407.85) and Niagara-Wheatfield’s Sean Kearns (386.90) came close to the qualifying mark of 420.

Maynard said it was a good battle between Devlin and Monteleone Friday night.

“He’s one each won every year since he was a freshman. But this was a rough one,” Maynard said. “Ryan Monteleone — he put up one hell of a fight. We really did not know how things were going to go down until the very, very end. I give Ryan a lot of credit. He fought, he gambled and he really pushed Austin this year. I think it brought the best out of both of them. Now we have another month of keep getting the best out of both of them, and we’ll see what happens.”

Devlin finished seventh last year at the state championships in Nassau County and said he’s going to lay it all out on the line in his final try.

“I’m aiming for top three, but we’ll see what happens after everything’s done,” Devlin said. “I can do it, everything has to fall into place. I just have to work hard and keep going.”

The Section VI meet will take place Feb. 17-18 at Clarence, while the state championships will be March 3-4 at Erie Community College.

“Hopefully one of the three can win sectionals,” Lew-Port coach Josh Janese said. “I know there are some really good guys from East Aurora out there, Lake Shore (too). But hopefully one of those guys can win.”

Contact sports editor Brandon Koch at 693-1000, ext. 4117.