Hawks, ‘Hounds improving their stroke

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Hard work pays off for Hawks

Woodland’s Katie Hinckley helps the Hawks win the 400 free relay versus Torrington last Friday. LARAINE WESCHLER

Woodland head coach Mike Magas has said his team is working harder than ever. The proof is already starting to show.

The Hawks went toe-to-toe with Torrington, the two-time defending Naugatuck Valley League champ. The result: A hard-fought, 93-93 tie.

“We’ve been averaging about 1,000 more yards per day in the pool than last year,” Magas said. “This is the hardest-working team I’ve had as a swim coach.”

Katie-Jean Hinckley and Jen Tavares each won two individual events for the Hawks, and the team won seven of the 12 races as the Hawks and Raiders tied last Friday afternoon. Hinckley won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle, while Tavares won the 50 and 100 free.

Wooland’s Chrissy Leeper, right, cheers on her teammates last Friday versus Torrington. LARAINE WESCHLER

The Hawks also won the meet’s last event, the 400 free relay. Chrissy Leeper and Sydney Corneau combined with Hinckley and Tavares to grab much-needed points to assure the tie.

Hinckley’s time in the relay was a lifetime best.

“Katie certainly did her part on Friday,” Magas said of Hinckley.

The same relay team also took the 200 free. In addition, Woodland’s Dayna Chucta won the diving event.

When the Hawks were not winning races, they were still putting up best times.

“I would say about 50 percent of our swims were lifetime bests,” Magas said.

Woodland beat Southington, 98-78, on Tuesday to stay unbeaten at 4-0-1. Up next for the Hawks is Watertown, another team which Magas has said is among the league’s best. Woodland travels to meet the Indians on Friday night.

Greyhounds progressing well

Naugatuck has split its first two NVL meets with a win over Kennedy and a loss to Watertown.

In the 91-80 win over Kennedy, the Greyhounds (1-1) took at least the top two spots in the first three events. Madison Wilson won the 100 butterfly and 200 IM for Naugy.

Rebecca Doback (500 free), Amanda Miller (100 free) and Elizabeth Walsh (200 free) also won individual events for the Greyhounds.

“Our top five or six girls, are all pretty versatile, but we cannot capitalize on that without some pretty broad depth,” Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee said. “Everyone is working very hard and times are dropping so I am very pleased.”

In their most recent meet on Sept. 24 at Watertown, the ‘Hounds posted 50 best times. Bianca Antrum won the 1-meter dive with her best point total of the season—135.05.

“Bianca Antrum is probably the biggest surprise of the season so far,” McKee said. “Bianca won her first diving meet at Watertown and shows quite a bit of promise.”

Overall, McKee likes what he sees.

“After just four weeks of training, there is tremendous progress,” McKee said. “Girls returning from last year are pretty much back in shape and many of the new team members are starting to contribute.”

New swimmers such as Maria Carranza, Tattiana Serrano, Erica Spino, and Kim O’Brien have all swam best times in multiple events adding to the team’s depth.

Naugy continues a stretch of four-straight away meets this Friday with a contest at Seymour.