Hawks make waves in Class S

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Woodland's Dia Gawronski, left, smiles after picking up her second place medal in the 200 freestyle during the Class S swimming championships Nov. 16 at Wesleyan University in Middletown. The Hawks finished eighth as a team. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Woodland’s Dia Gawronski, left, smiles after picking up her second place medal in the 200 freestyle during the Class S swimming championships Nov. 16 at Wesleyan University in Middletown. The Hawks finished eighth as a team. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

MIDDLETOWN — The Woodland girls swim team finished up its best season since 2011 with a top ten finish at the Class S state championship meet Nov. 16 at Wesleyan University.

The Hawks finished eighth in the 28-team field with 271 points. Weston won the championship with 833 points. Woodland faced a lot of familiar competition with seven NVL teams represented at the meet.

“The NVL had a good showing in the meet,” Woodland head coach Mike Magas said. “We finished in the top ten for the second time since 2011 when we placed fourth.”

The Hawks were led by their record-breaking junior Dia Gawronski, who captured second place in the 200 freestyle (1:55.47) and the 100 butterfly (58.05). Her time in the butterfly broke her own school record.

“Dia had a great meet,” Magas said. “She continues to amaze me and is always at 100 percent whether it’s at a meet or in practice.”

Gawronski wasn’t the only Hawk that made waves.

“We had three girls break into the top ten in the individual races and two of our three relay teams placed in the top five,” Magas said. “I’m ecstatic on how we finished up the season.”

Senior Tatianna Lynn took seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:06.44) and junior Brooke Pope was eighth in the 50 freestyle (26.02). Lynn also took 12th in the 500 freestyle (5:51.48) and Pope finished tenth in the 100 freestyle (57.37).

“Tatianna and Brooke really came on towards the end and really closed out the season well,” Magas said. “To see them both swim in the championship heat was very impressive being in the top eight in the state of the Class S division.”

Senior Taylor Amore (24th in the 100 breaststroke) along with juniors Jordan Williams (23rd in the backstroke) and Kyla Drewry (19th in the 100 butterfly and 20th in the 100 backstroke) also scored points for the Hawks in individual events.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Lynn, Pope, Gawronski and freshman Alexandra Rojcov finished fourth (1:45.82). The 400 freestyle relay foursome of Lynn, Drewry, Pope and Gawronski finished fifth (3:52.80). The 200 medley squad of Williams, Amore, Drewry and Rojcov placed 12th (2:07.13).

The diving team of juniors Maddie Hoxie and Julianna Bartolucci didn’t qualify for the finals, but Magas had high praise for their progress this season.

“Maddie and Julianna really came along and although they didn’t make the finals they know what it will take to compete at that level,” Magas said. “They have already set goals for next season and will make us even more competitive.”

At the State Open Nov. 19 at Yale University in New Haven, Gawronski finished 13th in the 100 butterfly (59.14) and 14th in the 200 freestyle (1:56.49).

The Hawks will be losing “a good group of seniors who helped this team develop,” Magas said.

“But I’m really excited about the strong core of juniors we have coming back and the potential of our freshman and sophomore class,” he continued. “Looking forward to a real exciting season next year and another group of freshman who will come in and add to our depth.”