Woodland swimmers impress despite loss

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BEACON FALLS — The Woodland boys swim team lost its season-opening meet, but won over its head coach.

Tom Currier, the Hawks’ coach, was pleased with individual results in a 95-85 loss to Sacred Heart on Dec. 15. The Hawks have not swum competitively since, but the first meet gave the team a lot to build on.

“I left that meet smiling and impressed,” Currier said.

The Hawks won four events against the Hearts and had eight qualifying times for the states. That’s impressive for a first meet.

Pat O’Dell (100 fly), Eric Beaudoin (100 back), and Adam Trumbley (100 breast) won individual events while Andrew O’Dell, Eric Dietz, Pat O’Dell and Trumbley won the 400 free relay for Woodland.

“Everybody shocked me,” Currier added. “Nobody swam slow.”

Team captains Trumbley, Tony Madigan and Rebecca Bock will lead a Woodland team that may lack depth, but will not be short on quality times.

“We’re going to have a lot of top scorers,” Currier said. “It’s going to be interesting to see what wins out—depth or best times.”

The Hawks return several swimmers and one diver who qualified for the states last season. Seniors Trumbley, Lindsay Boland (diving), Eric Beaudoin and Matthew Costa, along with juniors Pat O’Dell, Dietz, Andrew Cullen all earned state appearances last year.

Trumbley may be one of the best all-around swimmers for the Hawks and has qualified in the states with the IM and breast.

Perhaps the best all-around swimmer the Hawks feature is Pat O’Dell, who qualified for the states in each of his events last year. He set qualifying times in the 200 IM and butterfly against Sacred Heart.

Dietz has qualified in the backstroke and came close to his best time in the 50 free, while Cullen nearly topped his best time in the breaststroke.

Freshman Andrew O’Dell immediately qualified for the states in the 500 against the Hearts, and could be Currier’s next go-to distance swimmer. Currier is looking to find someone to replace Will Gerard, who graduated last spring.

“Andrew could fill those shoes,” Currier said.

The Hawks have three primary divers, led by Boland, who has qualified for the states the last two years. Boland finished second in the diving event against Sacred Heart and looked like she was in midseason form.

“She looked very sharp,” Currier said.

The Hawks are in the midst of a three-week break. Currier said he will use this time to condition his team and prepare for the rest of the season.

Woodland’s next meet is on Jan. 7 against Northwestern