Woodland swimmers focus on NVLs

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Colin Kennelly and the Hawks have turned their attention to the NVL championships. –FILE PHOTO

BEACON FALLS — With the regular season in the books, the Woodland boys swimming and diving team has turned its attention to the Naugatuck Valley League championships.

Swimmers and divers from across the NVL will come together next week to vie for a title. The diving championship is March 1 at Woodland. The swim championships is two days later at Kennedy High School in Waterbury.

Woodland head coach Tom Currier knows his Hawks face a tough task going up against larger and deeper teams in a sport where depth is crucial for a team’s success. But that doesn’t change what Currier wants out of his squad.

“Best times, we want best times. … What we always enforce is best times, racing the clock, doing better than they did last year,” Currier said.

Currier sees potential in a number of Hawks to make an impact at NVLs, including Greg Aldrich (200 IM and breaststroke) and Zac Arisian (butterfly). He said seniors Colin Kennelly and Julie Hinckley are doing well in the freestyle events.

“[Hinckley] works her butt off,” Currier said.

Currier added Jake Stow is looking stronger in the backstroke, as is Jeff Varesio in the freestyle events.

“[Varesio’s] been working hard. So I think something will come out of him,” he said.

The Hawks also have one of the better divers in the league in sophomore Riley Clark, who set the school record three times this year.

“He should make waves, absolutely,” said Currier about Clark.

The Hawks ended the regular season 3-9 in dual meets after falling to Oxford, 97-88, on Feb. 14.

Kennelly earned first in the 50 freestyle (25.31), and Aldrich took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.68) against Oxford. Clark dove to first place, as well, with a score of 246.00.

The 200 medley relay squad of Stow, Aldrich, Varesio and Kennelly picked up first place in 1:56.95.

Kennelly also qualified for states in the 100 freestyle during the meet with a second-place time of 55.35, according to Currier. Kennelly became the third Hawk, including Stow in the backstroke and Clark in diving, to automatically qualify for the Class S meet.

With a little more than two weeks between their final meet and the league championships, the Hawks are honing their strokes in specific events. Currier said the team’s mindset is in a good place. They’re a little beat up from intense practices, he said, but remain excited to get in the pool every day.

That fun-loving attitude is what Currier wants to see come next week.

“Have fun racing, it’s what we’re here for,” Currier said. “If they’re not having fun, it’s not worth it. And we’re here to race.”