‘Hounds display depth, versatility

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Naugatuck’s Nicholas Ryan competes in the 100 butterfly versus Woodland Jan. 20 in Beacon Falls. Naugatuck won the meet, 92-83. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Nicholas Ryan competes in the 100 butterfly versus Woodland Jan. 20 in Beacon Falls. Naugatuck won the meet, 92-83. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck boys swim team continued its hot start in the NVL as the Greyhounds swam past Woodland Jan. 20.

Naugatuck picked up a 92-83 win over the Hawks to improve to 5-0 in the league. The ‘Hounds won two of the three relays and captured first and second in two events and first and third in two other events to show their depth and versatility.

Last Friday, the Greyhounds went out of the league and hosted Pomperaug, winners of nine straight Class L state championships, and Conard, a team that is a perennial top ten team in Class L. Naugatuck dropped a 97-79 decision to Pomperaug and came away with a 94-89 win over Conard.

“We have never beaten Conard so it was a good test for us, and especially going up against a team like Pomperuag,” Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee said.

The Greyhounds were scheduled to host Oxford on Tuesday. Results from the meet weren’t reported.

Naugatuck came out quickly against Woodland taking first and third in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Omari Solomon, Nick Fox, Colby Storm and Elliot Dupont raced to victory in a time of 1:54.71. The team of Martin Lippai, Matt Jackmen, Brandon Thomas and Eric Cruz finished third.

The Greyhounds began to pull away earning first- and second-place finishes in the 200 freestyle and the 200 IM. Robert Spino won the 200 freestyle in 2:04.24 with Matt Goggin finishing second and Ben Rossi fifth as the ‘Hounds outscored the Hawks 11-5.

In the 200 IM, Evan Bombery raced to victory in 2:22.75 and Dale Wakeley finished second with Solomon taking fourth as Naugatuck pulled out a 12-4 edge to build a comfortable 33-13 advantage.

Naugatuck’s Evan Bomberry does the backstroke during the 200 individual medley versus Woodland Jan. 20 in Beacon Falls. Naugatuck won the meet, 92-83. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Evan Bomberry does the backstroke during the 200 individual medley versus Woodland Jan. 20 in Beacon Falls. Naugatuck won the meet, 92-83. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

“We are seeing a lot of best times from some of the new guys,” McKee said. “It’s always good to see that. It shows them what all the effort is about. They work hard in practice and they are wondering what is all the hard work for, and then they see the significant time drops and it makes it all worthwhile.”

Right before the diving portion of the meet, Naugatuck came away with a tie of eight points each against the Hawks in the 50 freestyle. Storm finished second in 24.52 with Graden Beasley right behind in third with an effort of 25.56, and Dupont taking fifth.

The Greyhounds put this one in the win column by taking first and third over the next two events. Nick Ryan swam to first in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.68 with Erin Doris taking third.

In the 100 freestyle, Brian Goggin raced to victory in 52.49 with Peter Morrissey finishing third in 53.89. Naugatuck closed out the meet with Lippai winning the 500 freestyle with an effort of 5:45.43 and Wakeley winning the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:08.48.

“It all comes down to your times and being able to lower those times every time you get in the pool,” McKee said. “I think we showed our depth using a lot of different combinations and now we get ready for some of the top teams in the league and see where we stand.”

Naugatuck will face Holy Cross, last year’s NVL champion, on Friday at the Kennedy High School pool in a 4 p.m. showdown. The Greyhounds return home next Wednesday to host Torrington.