Fowler wins NVL diving crown
WATERBURY — Sara Fowler has kept a winning tradition going for Woodland.
For the fourth time in 11 years, a diver on the Hawks has captured the NVL crown with a first-place finish at the conference championships. The senior won the event by over 12 points.
“Sara performed well under pressure,” Woodland head coach Mike Magas said. “She was consistent all night and had some tremendous dives.”
Fowler joined previous NVL diving winners Rachel Battis, and Heather and Danya Chucta.
“We’ve had a pretty good run,” Magas said.
The diving event got things going for the Hawks, who finished seventh overall in total points out of 12 teams at the Naugatuck Valley League championships Nov. 1 at Kennedy High School in Waterbury.
Numerous lifetime-best times were recorded, according to Magas.
Junior Sarah Bryden took home two top-10 finishes. Bryden placed fifth in the 100 backstroke and 10th in the 50 freestyle —qualifying for the states in Class S in both events in the process.
“Sarah swam very well,” Magas said.
Emma Sardinskas, a senior, finished eighth in the 500 free — accounting for Woodland’s only other individual finish in the top 10. Sardinskas also took 12th in the 200 free.
Sardinskas qualified for the states in the 500 at the finals and the 100 back based on a result from the regular season.
Junior Lisa Thrasher finished 14th in the 50 free and qualified for states. She also took 15th in the 100 free.
Another junior, Morgan Reichard, finished 17th in the 200 IM, a new event for her.
“She stepped up in many events this year,” Magas said of Reichard.
The Hawks have relied on young swimmers to compete in key races.
In the 500 free, sophomores Tatianna Lynn (14th place) and Veronica Dergachev (16th place) both did lifetime-bests.
Freshman Kyla Drewry finished 12th in the butterfly and dropped 5 seconds off her previous-best time. Brooke Pope, another freshman, took 19th in the IM.
Freshmen Jordan Williams (backstroke), Jordan Theroux (butterfly) and Carly Erickson (breaststroke) all competed and scored points for the Hawks.
“We have a bright future ahead of us,” Magas said. “There’s potential for years to come.”
The championship meet is Nov. 11 at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.
