Naugatuck
2021 results: 10-2 boys, NVL runner-up; 8-4 girls, 4th at NVL
Key players: Shayne Hasipi (Sr.), Brendan Lyles (Sr.), Jack Healy (Sr.), Zach McCasland (Jr.); Jayda Costa (Sr.)
Key losses: Matt Nofri, Taylor Trowers, Cameron Jacobs, Lalo Lopez; Julia Kropo, Alyssa Jones
Outlook: The Greyhounds are ready to take that next leg on their journey with second-year coach Kevin Schumann. They lost a lot to graduation but the coach is quite pleased with the excitement from the returning runners and is looking for the team to continue to progress.
“Last season it was all about getting better with each meet,” said Schumann. “This year I think they are ready to take that next step. We were quite pleased with the boys finishing as runner-up and looking for the girls to continue to improve.”
Season starts: Sept. 13 at Hop Brook vs. Seymour, Oxford and St. Paul in a quad meet at 3:30 p.m.
Woodland
2021 results: Boys: 12-0, NVL champion, fifth in Class M; Girls: 11-1, NVL runner-up, fourth in Class SS
Key runners: Kayo Niebryzdowski (Sr.), Sam Ambrocio (Jr.), Bobby Gugliotti (Jr.), Gabriel Diamante (So.), Andrew Orlowski (So.), Trevor Genthe (Fr.); Kate Foley (Sr.), Lily Miko (So.), Faye Carnemolla (So.)
Key losses: Eric Meade, Colin Slavin, Chase Young; Chloe Poulos, Kim Poulos, Kayla Drmic
Outlook: The Hawks still expect to be competitive this fall even after losing one of their all-time best senior classes that included Class SS champion Chloe Poulos and NVL champion Colin Slavin. Longtime Woodland coach Jeff Lownds maintains high expectations for his top runners, even though the Hawks will compete with a little bit more of a limited roster than usual.
“We are a bit lower on numbers but still have some good athletes,” Lownds said. “We will always work hard and look forward to another successful season.”
Foley will captain the girls squad, while Niebryzdowski will captain the boys team. Woodland’s first meet is Sept. 13 at Wolcott, followed by a four-team race Sept. 20 at St. Paul.
