Freshmen bolster Woodland’s ranks

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Woodland seniors, from left, Nicholas Piscitelli, Charles Schwarz and Bayan Galal along with Greg Aldrich and Kyle Crowell (missing from photo) will lead the cross country team this season. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — Longtime Woodland cross country coach Jeff Lownds isn’t used to having a sizable group of freshmen come out for the team in late August.

But that’s exactly what the 18th-year coach got this season when 17 rookies joined the Hawks to double the size of the program.

“I’m very fortunate this year that we have some nice numbers,” said Lownds, who recently retired from his teaching career at Long River Middle School in Prospect. “It’s going to be interesting to see how things play out.”

Although there are plenty of newcomers this fall, Woodland returns several runners who helped the Hawks to success in their championship meets last year. Both the boys and girls squads finished among the top three at the Naugatuck Valley League championships and seventh at the Class M state meet.

Emma Slavin, a junior who earned All-NVL honors last season, returns to lead the girls squad. She’s joined by all-division honorees Jill Brotherton and Jaden Young, as well as Bayan Galal, the team’s lone senior. Lownds also pointed to sophomore Brooke Iannone and freshmen Chloe Poulos and Megan Ruhl as promising runners.

On the boys side, the Hawks will have to replace All-NVL runner Matt Luxeder. All-division runners Kyle Crowell and Greg Aldrich, both seniors, will lead the way along with Charlie Schwarz, Marty Swercewski, Riley Muricchio and others.

Like the other teams in the area, the Hawks had to change up their practice schedule a little bit last week due to the scorching weather.

“We were able to practice indoors and we even did some cross-training in the pool,” Lownds said. “I try to do that a couple of times a season, and it works well.”

Lownds said he’s been encouraged by the fact that most of his returning runners and newcomers appear to be dedicated to the program.

“The gratifying thing is that these guys are on board,” Lownds said. “I think most of them did their summer practice work the best they could. It’s a nice mix of some upperclassmen leadership and some freshmen coming in to join the program and do the right things. I’m excited for this season. I have no idea how we’ll do, but it’ll be a fun season. I think we should be in the mix.”

Woodland will open the season Sept. 11 against Wolcott and Wilby.