By ANDREW LOVELL
Staff Writer

NEWINGTON — In Scott Gray’s five seasons as the girls swimming and diving coach at Newington High School, he’s had his fair share of talented athletes.

But this year, his squad boasts a first during Gray’s tenure: diving depth.

The Indians’ four divers — senior tri-captain Holly McDonald, sophomore Jessica Goldman, junior Sara Siviski and junior Jenna Fravel — are all on pace to qualify for states.

McDonald and Goldman have already earned scores high enough to automatically qualify them for states.

“All four of them we’re expecting to make states,” Gray said. “That’s how good our diving crew is.”

McDonald, who finished first with a score of 167.04 in Newington’s 93-85 win against East Hartford Tuesday afternoon, is the headliner. McDonald finished 16th in Class L last year as a junior and is poised to vault into the top 10 this season.

Goldman, a sophomore making the transition from gymnastics to full-time diving, already eclipsed the 160.00 automatic qualifier score earlier in the season. She finished second overall Tuesday with a score of 158.86.

Siviski, a junior who also has a background in gymnastics and plays for the Newington golf team in the spring, is steadily advancing in her first full season as a diver. She tallied a score of 149.27 against East Hartford.

In just her second career varsity diving meet, Siviski topped 151.00, so she is already in the consideration for states.

The same goes for Jenna Fravel, who didn’t dive Wednesday because each team only uses three divers each meet. The junior has grown by leaps and bounds since her freshman year.

Add this new-found depth on top of the Indians’ already potent cast of swimmers, headlined by senior tri-captains Molly Martin and Kelsey Cronin, and the Indians (3-1) appear to have everything needed for a successful season and strong showing at the Class L state championships.

“They did very well, and not necessarily because we beat East Hartford,” Gray said. “We did very well because as a team the girls are starting to hit their goals, their personal goals.”

Martin, who finished fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke last year, finished first in the 500-yard freestyle and swam a leg of the first-place 200-yard medley relay squad.

Cronin, who finished 12th in the 100-yard backstroke in 2008, had first-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke Tuesday.

Rachel Thatcher finished second in the 200-yard individual medley, Adrianna Chorzepa came in first in 100-yard butterfly and Monica Neu finished third in the 50-yard freestyle.

Gray also pointed out Dorothy Henderson’s second-place finish, right behind Chorzepa in the butterfly.

Gray said the team is showing improvement week by week as the season continues, a necessity in a sport like swimming. With a season that runs just about two months, Gray said any work the girls put in prior to the season is also beneficial.

“The best part of my job is to get them motivated to swim in the summer, so they can get in shape to start,” Gray said. “Molly, she loves to exercise. She likes to go and work out on her own even after practice. I have to tell her not to every once in a while. She just loves to work out, that’s her passion.”

The Indians have a short week this week, hosting Maloney on Friday after yesterday’s meet.

But that’s just fine with Gray.

After all, each and every member of the team recently posted their individual goal sheets in the pool area. Each one contains two swimming goals and one academic goal.

At this rate, they will have met them all before the month is over.

“We have Maloney on Friday,” Gray said. “Maloney’s always a tough meet for us. It’s a great, competitive meet and we’re really looking forward to that.”