BEACON FALLS — After two of the three most successful seasons in Woodland golf history, the Hawks will look to keep up their strong play this spring with their two best players returning to the links.
Woodland finished as the Naugatuck Valley League championship match’s runner-up last spring for the second time in three years. The Hawks posted a team score of 366 at the Watertown Golf Club, 16 strokes off the blistering pace set by perennial champion Holy Cross.
The Hawks’ two top scorers from that match are back to try to help Woodland over the hump this spring. Senior Julian Perino is a three-time All-NVL selection, earning last year’s honors after finishing third at the NVL tournament with an 81.
He’ll be backed up by junior Josh Hassan, who notched All-NVL Iron Division accolades with an 85. Perino and Hassan combined to shoot 17 strokes better at the 2017 NVL match than they did in 2016.
Although Woodland lost Alec Feducia, T.J. Giarratona, and Josh Sierra to graduation, they return the top two players and another player, senior Chris Guerrette, who scored at last year’s NVL championship meet.
Woodland coach Bill Carangelo, who was unavailable for comment, also praised at the end of last season the play of Tom Conroy, who is a sophomore this season.
The Hawks will open the season Tuesday against defending NVL champion Holy Cross at Western Hills in Waterbury. Woodland’s first home match is set for Thursday against Wilby at Oxford Greens.
