Naugy swimming with confidence

NAUGATUCK — Postseason time has arrived in the NVL.

League tournaments for some sports wrapped up this week, and the focus will turn to the NVL girls swim meet on Saturday. Coach Jim McKee and his Greyhounds are very confident going into the meet.

“Training has gone extremely well. I am very optimistic,” said McKee, whose ‘Hounds are 7-3 in the NVL.

Naugy finished the regular season strong with an 89-77 win over Holy Cross and a 91-79 win over Wilby at home Oct. 24. The Greyhounds’ resume also includes wins over Torrington and Oxford, which is of the top teams in the league.

Co-captain Erica Spino is not surprised by the team’s success because of the teammates that surround her.

“If you do your best then that’s the goal,” Spino said. “Every girl has been working all season to drop their personal times and if that is what they do then they have done their job.”

McKee is on the same page as his captain. He said all of his players have stepped up this season.

“I have four core swimmers, but we have many other swimmers who have stepped up, like Olivia Filanowski and Amanda Rinaldi,” McKee pointed out. “We have 18 swimmers on this team and they have all contributed.”

Spino and her co-captain, Tathiana Serrano, have been a part of many relay victories for the Greyhounds along with Alexandra Silva, Erin Brown, Faith Tuscano and Elizabeth Tuscano.

Against Holy Cross and Wilby the relay team of Tuscano, Silva, Spino and Brown won the 200 medley relay in a time of 2:23. The relay team of Cara Rotatori, Addison Best, Tuscano and Serrano also took first in the 400 free relay with a time of 4:27.08.

Naugatuck has also found success in the freestyle events with Rotatori, Serrano and Best.

Last Friday Rotatori won the 200 free, Serrano took first in the 50 free and 100 free, while Best won the 500 free.

The Greyhounds have shown the ability to make a splash at the NVL meet, but in order for them to do so they have to get past Sacred Heart, which Spino described as “untouchable.”

“You would have to be ignorant to not realize that they (Sacred Heart) have good swimmers,” McKee admitted.

Although he sees Sacred Heart as the team to beat, McKee is treating the Hearts like any other team.

“I do not spend too much time thinking about one team,” he said. “We have to play our best against everyone.”

Naugy will have to swim their best, but every swimmer on the team is sure they will.
Spino said they have trained hard and are ready to dive in.

“We are prepared for it to all pay off and to see the results,” she said.

The NVL diving championships were Thursday. The NVL finals are Saturday at Kennedy High School in Waterbury at 4 p.m.