Naugatuck swimmers celebrate in win over Holy Cross

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NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck girls swim team celebrated senior night on Tuesday with a convincing 90-60 win over Holy Cross.

Senior captains Jaimee Trumbley, Stephanie Almeida and Meghan Messier along with senior Katie Meyer were sent off with a celebration poolside after the Greyhounds improved to 5-4-1 on the season.

“The goal coming into the season was to have more wins than we did losses,” Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee said. “The girls have worked hard and have made steady improvement. Our times are way faster than they were at the start of the season. For the most part we have had three girls scoring in almost every event in just about every meet.”

Naugy got right after it Tuesday. The 200 medley relay team of Molly Kennelly, Maria Guimares, Katelyn Fortney and Katie Brown finished first in 2:08.26.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Meghan Korowotny, Francesca Spino, Fortney and Emily Sarmiento also posted a winning time of 2:01.31.

The Greyhounds took first, second and third in the 200 IM with Korowotny winning in 2:35.52. Taylor Siefer was second and Stephanie Almeida finished third.

“This has been the kind of season where we had to have some girls step up,” McKee said. “We had some spots to fill due to injuries and one girl quitting, and Stephanie Almeida did a great job for us picking up some points.”

Naugy put together another 1-2-3 finish in the 500 freestyle with Abrianna Hasipi taking first in 6:37.62, followed by Abbey Shugdinis and Siefer.

Brown won the diving competition with a score of 198.15.

Kennelly finished first in the 50 freestyle in 28.04, and the depth of the Greyhounds showed as they posted second- and third-place finishes in three other events.

With a large lead, Naugy swam the final three events exhibition.

“We have had sometimes between 20 to 27 best times in meets. That may not sound like a lot, but with only 21 swimmers that is about everyone contributing with best times,” McKee said.

“Katie Meyer dropped seven seconds off her 500 freestyle time,” he continued. “We only have four seniors but their impact played a big role in some of the younger girls learning how to work hard.”

Naugy closes out the regular season on Friday at Wilby and will then get ready for the NVL championship meet on Nov. 4.

“We have one more meet to go but we are not done,” McKee said. “We will then get ready and work on some things, and in two weeks we will be ready to swim in the championship meet.”