BY Indianapolis Star

Everything I've learned since then, I learned from my dad," she said.

During the summer before her freshman year, Wray did a few dives just for fun when she was at the high school pool with her dad, Dan, the Flashes' diving coach.

She was coming back from a knee injury after being a gymnast for seven years and discovered that diving placed less pressure on her knee.

Goodbye, gymnastics; hello, diving.

Alyssa admitted it was a struggle -- but she's glad she decided to go off the 1-meter springboard then.

"There were some bitter experiences," she said. "But now I wouldn't trade diving for anything in the world."

Wray was sixth in the Ben Davis Sectional last season. Her goals this year are realistic: score 300 points or more in an 11-dive competition and qualify for the regional.

Her drive to succeed epitomizes her relationship with her father.

"He pushes me very hard," Alyssa said. "He knows exactly what I want out of this -- he wants me to do my best, too."

Her gymnastics background helped prepare her for diving, especially for many dives that have twists.

"Gymnastics is a very scary sport and you have to get over a lot of fear," she said. "And I'm used to being able to do that when I dive."

Her favorite dive is a front flip with a full twist. The back 11/2 is her most difficult dive -- the one she calls "my enemy."

She is active away from swimming, too.

She is in the youth group at Christ United Methodist Church. She serves on the high school student council. She is president of Students Against Destructive Decisions.

"We promote drug-free awareness at our high school because it's such a big issue," she said. "As athletes, we want to represent ourselves as drug-free and good citizens."

She is the oldest among four sisters. Her youngest sister, Jenna, 9, dives for Indy Starz.

Alyssa will attend the University of Indianapolis and major in nursing.

She helped the Flashes win their first two meets. She won against Greenwood last week by scoring 143 points more than teammate and runner-up Emily Puckett. Wray, Kira Tucher and Kaila Miller, a two-time state qualifier, are the team's only seniors.

"We had six seniors last year and they motivated us in so many different ways," said Miller, the team's captain. "Now it's my turn . . . but we have a better team this year."

Sprint freestyle winners Samantha Ashworth and Brooke Thompson won for Greenwood and joined Deborah Wilson and Megan Webber on the winning 400 freestyle relay against the Flashes.

"Most programs swim through dual meets," Greenwood coach Doug O'Neill said. "Everybody is thinking about how much will be gained by the end of the season."

Last lap

Franklin diver Natalie Grissom and 100 backstroke competitor Shelli Kopetsky kept neighbor Center Grove from a sweep Saturday in Franklin's new pool. . . . No. 8 Center Grove, 3-0 after defeating Mid-State champion Plainfield Monday, hosts No. 1 Carmel Tuesday. Katie Loscar was a double winner for the Trojans against Plainfield; Michelle McKeehan and freshmen Allie Day and Taylor Davis doubled against Franklin. . . . Kim Bradley of Roncalli (2-1) had three career-best times Monday against Zionsville.

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