Naugy’s quickness, depth on display

0
128
Naugatuck’s Molly Kennelly competes in the 200 individual medley against Torrington Sept. 16 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the meet, 96-82. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck’s Molly Kennelly competes in the 200 individual medley against Torrington Sept. 16 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the meet, 96-82. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck girls swim team is off to a quick start.

The Greyhounds earned a 96-82 win over Torrington Sept. 16 and improved to 2-0 with an 87-84 win over St. Paul on Tuesday.

Senior captains Addison Best and Olivia Filanowski along with freshman Molly Kennelly were double winners in individual events against Torrington.

Best took first place in the 200 freestyle in 2:14.29 and 500 freestyle in 6:06.21. Filanowski won the 50 freestyle in 29.25 and 100 freestyle in 1:04.98. Kennelly has shown the depth of this year’s team as the freshman took first place in the 200 IM in 2:51.41 and the 100 backstroke in 1:11.76.

“We have such a great group of girls who are working their hardest,” Filanowski said. “And with the results of our first meet it looks like all that hard work is paying off.”

Kennelly has already set the tone for the newcomers. She was a double winner again versus St. Paul. Kennelly took first in the 200 IM in 2:48.32 and first in the 100 backstroke in 1:14.07.

“I’m not surprised with the fast start we’ve had on the season,” Kennelly said. “The amount of work that we have been putting in is showing by the results. We have been training really hard.”

Best won two events as well against St. Paul. She took first in the 200 and 500 freestyle races while taking part in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

“We have a lot of new girls coming into the program this season so I wasn’t sure what to expect once we started to face competition,” Best said. “I was really proud of everyone’s effort in our first meet of the season and it was nice to see us continue that against St. Paul.”

Sophomore diver Katie Brown has been putting up consistent numbers winning the event versus Torrington and St. Paul with scores of 190.95 and 180.60, respectively.

Naugatuck’s Addison Best competes in the 200 freestyle against Torrington Sept. 16 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the meet, 96-82. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck’s Addison Best competes in the 200 freestyle against Torrington Sept. 16 at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the meet, 96-82. –LUKE MARSHALL

Through two meets, Naugatuck has shown its depth. Junior Elizabeth Tuscano finished second in the 200 freestyle against Torrington. Sophomores Brin Battisti and Julianna Scully finished second in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle, respectively.

Tuscano had second-place finishes in the 200 free and 100 butterfly against St. Paul. Scully added a second-place finish in the 200 IM.

The Naugatuck relay squads are coming together as a consistent group. The 200 medley relay squad of Kennelly, Scully, junior Meghan Messier and sophomore Francesca Spino took first against St. Paul. The 200 freestyle team of Emily Sarmiento, Tuscano, Scully and Best swam to first against Torrington.

“I’m encouraged by our fast start,” Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee said. “But it all comes down to what your times are at the end of November. Swimming at the league championships is when you want to put up your best times.

“We are pretty diversified. We have three kids in every event. But it all comes down to your improvement and getting better with each week of the season.”

Naugatuck will visit Oxford on Friday and host Kennedy Sept. 27.