Hawks hone in

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BEACON FALLS — The Hawks are sharpening their strokes heading into the postseason.

The Woodland boys swim team will face Oxford Wednesday before wrapping up the regular season Friday at home versus Torrington.

As the regular season winds down, the Hawks have been focusing on honing their specific strokes with more intensity, head coach Tom Currier said.

“Everybody’s right on their best times, a few of them are surpassing their best times,” said Currier following last Friday’s practice. “This season is really working out well. They’re clicking very well with the routine I’m throwing at them.”

The homestretch of the season started Feb. 9 with a meet versus NVL frontrunner Holy Cross. The Hawks fell, 102-67, to the Crusaders but the growth of Woodland (3-7) was illustrated by swimmers like senior James Jensen.

Jensen swam his best time in the 100 freestyle (52.15) versus Holy Cross to take first place in the event.

“He’s clicking this year,” Currier said of Jensen.

Fellow seniors Donovan White and Jordan Baer are right at their best times, Currier added, as is junior Julie Hinckley in the 500 freestyle.

Continuing to push themselves and improve has consistently been Currier’s mantra for his Hawks. He pointed to the growth of Baer in the 100 butterfly as one example. When Baer first started as a freshman his time was in the 1:30 range, Currier said, that time is now in the 1:05 range.

“That’s a win situation right there,” Currier said.

The team has shown plenty of growth since practice began in December, Currier added.

“They’ve grown everywhere, really,” Currier said. “I’m very proud of them, where we’ve come from and where we’ve been.”

The Hawks will look to put that growth on display at the NVL championships. Time trials are set for March 1. The diving and swim championships are March 2 and March 4, respectively, at Kennedy High School in Waterbury.

With no year-round swimmers, the Hawks head into the NVL championship in the underdog role.

“I keep teasing them, they just got into shape a couple of weeks ago,” Currier joked.

However, Currier expects his Hawks to be full of surprises at NVLs, especially Jensen.

“Jimmy’s looking awesome. The way he’s cranking and just keeps dropping (times) and training right now … he’s training the best he’s ever trained,” Currier said. “He’s going to shock everybody, including himself.”