Greyhounds open the season strong 

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Naugatuck’s Alexio Valente competes in the 200 IM against Kennedy on Dec. 20 in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds won the meet, 97-79. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck boys swim team entered the season among the NVL favorites with a lineup filled with senior leadership, experience and depth. The Greyhounds put that lineup on display in a season-opening, 97-79 win over Kennedy on Dec. 20.

The Greyhounds jumped out to the lead with the foursome of senior P.J. Morrissey, juniors Zach Alves and Donilo Assis, and sophomore Dale Wakeley winning the 200 medley relay in 1:58.96.

Naugatuck never looked back and won six of the next seven events before finishing the meet with exhibition swims.

Senior Eric Cruz was a double-winner taking first place in the 50 freestyle (50.0) and then diving to victory with a score of 113.80.

Seniors Brandon Thomas (100 butterfly, 1:04.77) and Omari Solomon (100 freestyle, 55.78) showed the strength of the Greyhounds’ experience by swimming to first place.

Naugatuck also showed its depth with sophomore Austin Herb swimming to victory in the 500 freestyle (6:10.41), and freshman Spencer Maher taking first in the 200 freestyle (2:02.14).

The Greyhounds got a stern test scrimmaging Glastonbury on Dec. 22 and came up on the short end of a 99-83 final.

Glastonbury finished fourth in Class LL last season and ninth at the state open. The Greyhounds had a good showing, led by senior Evan Bombery with a first place in the 500 freestyle (5:07.91) and a second in the 200 freestyle (1:51.08).

Junior Brian Goggin swam to first in the 50 freestyle (23.45) and second in the 100 freestyle (51.65). Solomon won the 100 backstroke (1:01.65), and Maher was second in the 100 butterfly (59.91).

Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee, who couldn’t be reached for comment as of press time, was able to utilize quite a bit of his roster and get a good view of what the Greyhounds will bring to the pool when the NVL competition opens in earnest in January. The Greyhounds won’t be back in action until they host Crosby Jan. 6.

Naugatuck’s Matt Goggin competes in the 200 freestyle against Kennedy High School Dec. 20 in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds won the meet, 97-79. –LUKE MARSHALL

The 200 medley relay team of Solomon, Alves, Maher and senior Graden Beasley placed third (1:51.28). The 200 freestyle relay foursome of senior Robert Spino, Wakeley, Brian Goggin and Bombery swam to a second (1:37.62).

McKee got to use a variety of combinations in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Solomon, Morrissey, Brian Goggin and Bombery finishing first (3:34.77).

The foursome of freshmen Alex Manasoiu, Maher, Wakeley and Spino finished second (3:46.89) and the squad of senior Matt Goggin, junior Elliott Dupont, junior Cameron Litwinka and senior Ben Rossi swam to third.