The Naugatuck and Woodland girls swim teams are hitting the Naugatuck Valley League championships on a high note.
In the last few meets, the Greyhounds have turned to less experienced swimmers and the result is a deeper lineup. That means more chances to score points in the NVLs.
Younger swimmers like Brin Battisti, Sarah Rawding, Francesca Spino and Julianna Scully have been called upon and continued to deliver best times.
“Before the Torrington meet, I told the girls this is a meet we have to win and win every single touch,” Naugy head coach Jim McKee said.
They pretty much did, and Naugy went on to beat Torrington, 94-88, Oct. 16.
In the 50 free event, Scully (29.81 seconds), Rawding (31.13) and another improving swimmer, Amanda Rinaldi (30.80), all beat their best times and scored points.
In the 200 medley relay, Brin Battisti anchored a best time of 31.54 in a group with Cara Rotatori, Rinaldi and Meghan Messier. Spino anchored another team in the event to a best time of 30.68.
Battisti also scored in the diving event.
It wasn’t just the points. It was their presence that gives the team flexibility.
“I put in girls that we hadn’t relied on before and told them to do their best times,” McKee said.
And they did.
Katie Brown, the team’s primary diver, came back in the final meet Oct. 23 against Holy Cross and Wilby. Brown put on a historical display.
Brown increased her degrees of difficulty and scored a 196.45 — the 10th highest total in Naugy history. With that total, Brown joined Rotatori as the only two Greyhounds to date who qualified for the states.
The Greyhounds swam past Holy Cross (88-86) and Wilby (88-70) to end the regular season on a high note.
With an improved diving event, individual event improvements and added depth in relays, the Greyhounds appear to be in position to gain ground in the NVL.
Swimmers new to the lineup can provide support to regulars like Rotatori, Addison Best, Olivia Filanowski, Meghan Lauer, Alexandra Silva and Faith Tuscano. The added depth allows Naugy to use their established swimmers in other spots without giving up points in races — especially when every point matters at the NVLs.
“I’m excited, we’re in a good place right now,” McKee said. “We’re getting ready for our best times of the season.”
McKee isn’t the only coach pleased with where his team stands heading into NVLs.
Woodland head coach Mike Magas is feeling positive about the hard work his swimmers have put in in preparing for the NVLs.
That work is paying off.
The Hawks ended the regular season Tuesday with a 96-85 win over Torrington on senior night.
“We ended on a great note,” Magas said.
The victory over Torrington gave the Hawks their eighth win of the season, which is tied for the second most wins in the history of the program.
Magas attributed the team’s success to hard work and balance. The Hawks don’t rely on any superstar standouts, rather Woodland brings a deep roster to the pool capable of scoring points in multiple events.
Swimmers like senior Sarah Bryden, who helped the Hawks’ 200 medley relay team take first versus Torrington in 2:11.86.
Magas also pointed to junior Tatianna Lynn, who provides the Hawks a consistent threat in the distance races. Lynn picked up a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle against Torrington in 2:17.83.
Several capable underclassmen give the Hawks the depth to go the distance, including sophomores Brooke Pope and Kyla Drewry. Pope and Drewry were part of the winning 200 medley relay team Tuesday. Drewry also won the 100 fly in 1:14.12, while Pope helped the 200 freestyle relay team take first in 1:58.17.
The Hawks have historically been a diving threat when the NVLs roll around. Last year, then senior Sara Fowler won the diving title. This year, Magas likes the chances that the title stays at Woodland with seniors Lauren Lombardo and Lisa Thrasher set to dive.
Thrasher won the diving competition against Torrington with a score of 203.40.
Magas said the regular season has been a successful one, but the Hawks aren’t slowing down with NVLs on the horizon.
“In my mind it was a very successful season, and we’re still building,” Magas said.
The NVL trials are scheduled for Nov. 3, with the diving event on Nov. 4 and the finals set for Nov. 6. All three events will take place at Kennedy High School in Waterbury.
Elio Gugliotti contributed to this article.
