This winter season’ s diving success comes naturally to the talented five starting athletes.
Under the coaching of Sabre Aquadro and David Koritkoski, the dive team predicts a successful season and hopes to have multiple people qualify for D2 NEPSAC tournament this winter.
Cole Cavanagh, Luke Grabowski, Francesca Gionfriddo, Mel McCullough, and Nick Sobon are the athletes on the diving boards this year, and although there are only five, they plan to bring in high scores and points for both the swimming and diving advantage.
The Swim and Dive team has been a part of Williston’s athletic department since 1957 for boys and 1974 for the girls. The program has won the Division II NEPSAC tournament 21 times, most recently being the 2023 boys program win.
While diving falls under the swimming category, there is a lot of separation between the two
sports. These tournaments recorded only swim team’s results; the diving team has no visible record on the school’s website. They compete together within the regular season, but the dive team participates in a separate NEPSAC tournament.
Last year, Cole Cavanagh, Luke Grabowski, and Mel McCullough placed in the top ten for their group, and both Cole and Luke earned NEPSAC honorable mentions.
After not graduating a single competitor and gaining two new divers, this year will continue to add more depth and skill to the already accomplished team.
To focus solely on the team’s size is to underestimate the skill the diving boards this year. Although many off the board see this as a problem, the divers see more pros than cons.
First year sophomore Francesca Gionfriddo appreciates fewer teammates on deck.
“I am really excited that our group is on the smaller side,” she said. “That way we will be able to practice more efficiently and become closer as a team.”
Additionally, fourth year sophomore Cole Cavanagh also admires the connection between the competitors on the team.
“Ever since 7th grade I have seen many people come and go,” he said. “During my four years on the team numbers have unfortunately become lower and lower, but I find that the people who do stay become closer together as the years go on and the team becomes more like a family.”
Cole’s older brother Connor also dove at Williston, and this gives the younger brother a heartfelt personal connection and devotion to the school’s diving program.
“My brother’s record was the one reason I decided to do diving; I went into diving my first year wanting to beat his record as like a brotherly competition,” he said. “Because of his record, diving went from just a ‘for fun sport’ to one of my main sports and a possible college interest.”
He added, “[The record] has made me passionate about diving and is my single motivation that powers me through every practice and every meet to do my best. I am now more determined than ever to beat that record but more importantly, leave a mark at Williston just like my brother before me.”
The coaching the team has set up new and old divers for success, which is clear even after the first two weeks.
Senior Nick Sobon is new to the sport, but after just a few practices has confidence in the coaching he has received.
‘The coaching has been so great,” he said. “It has been very evident how much little details can affect your performance.”
