BEACON FALLS — The goal for the Woodland boys swimming and diving team has been the same all season long — for each swimmer to put up their best time in the pool.
That isn’t going to change at NVLs.
The Naugatuck Valley League swim and diving championships are next week. NVL trials are March 3, followed by the diving final March 4 and the swim final March 6, all at Kennedy High School.
Head coach Tom Currier said the Hawks are approaching the NVLs with the same mindset they’ve gone into every meet and practice with — to swim as fast as they can.
“To put into it everything they have been training for and to put it together and do their best times,” Currier said.
The Hawks ended the regular season with a 5-9 record in meets. The record isn’t an indicator of the team’s talent as much as is it a measure of the Hawks’ depth. The roster goes 19 swimmers deep. This was evident in Woodland’s season finale Feb. 13 versus Torrington.
The Red Raiders won the meet, 94-79. But, the Hawks took first place in seven of 11 swimming events, led by senior Aidan Music who won the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
James Jensen took first in the 100 butterfly and Julie Hinckley won the 500 freestyle versus Torrington. The Hawks also won the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.
Currier is more than pleased with what he’s seen from his Hawks this year.
“This season is going great,” Currier said. “Swimmers are swimming at or near best times even with the snow days and lack of practices.”
Currier expects more of the same come the NVL finals, pointing to Music, Jensen, Donovan White, Hinckley, Jordan Baer and J.D. Dyckman as just a few of the Hawks he anticipates will make a splash at the league championship.
Hinckley will get the chance to make waves prior to NVLs. She will compete Saturday at the Splash Classic Plainville High School. The event is for girls who swim during the boys season to compete against just other girls. Hinckley is seeded fifth in the 500 freestyle and second in the 200 freestyle for the Splash Classic.
