Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Since overcoming his fear of water, the Pulaski County freshman has become a local swimming prodigy, but Gravley's story is one of perseverance as much as success.
As a youth, Gravley detested water to the point of "screaming bloody murder" when presented with the option of getting wet, according to his mother Judy Gravley. After wasting many swimming lessons, because of the fact the young Graham refused to get in the water, and spending a summer at the pool sitting on a towel, he finally took the plunge.
"He hated water," said his mother. "The rest of us loved it, but he absolutely hated it. He eventually jumped off a diving board on a bribe and it got rid of his fear."
After the dissolution of his trepidation, Gravley began swimming in a league in Galax at the age of 8. After a year in the program, Gravley was told that, if he wanted to continue his progress as a swimmer, he should consider joining the Southwest Aquatic Team.
Gravley joined the team but considered quitting after battling a minimum commute of two hours a day from his Carroll County home and results that were not as good as he had hoped.
"After my first year of SWAT, I came close to giving it up," he said. "I am so thankful that I didn't. God has given me a gift I want to practice to do the best I can to use my abilities."
After deciding to continue working with SWAT to further his development as a swimmer, Gravley was forced to make sacrifices. When the team practiced twice a day during the summer, Gravley would often spend four hours a day in the car.
The traveling time combined with practice and school forced him to give up other pursuits such as baseball and basketball to concentrate on his time in the pool. Despite the concessions Gravley made, in the form of giving up other activities, the strain from the commute led to his decision to move to Pulaski on a temporary basis.
"We moved to make it easier on him," said his mother. "He was leaving at eight in the morning and not getting back until eight at night. It also allowed him to be on a high school swim team [Pulaski is one of only two high school swim teams in the New River Valley]."
In addition to making things easier on the Gravley family, the move also made Maggie Manning's job of coaching a successful swim team easier.
"He is such a good athlete, and he works hard as well," said the Pulaski swim coach. "Distance races are his strength but I wouldn't hesitate to put him in any event."
Gravley hopes to parlay his swimming success into a college scholarship.
"I hope to complete my career and hopefully I will go some place in state [to swim]," he said.
That is a goal his coach believes is attainable.
"You never know, because four years is a long time," said Manning, "but, if he stays interested, I am sure that some Division I schools will be very interested in him."
by CNB