Hawks look to tap into potential

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Woodland seniors, from left, Alyssa Varesio, Colin Kennelly, Julie Hinckley and Tom LandryMickett will lead the boys swim team this season. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — When asked recently who he expects to take the proverbial leap forward this season in the pool, Woodland boys swimming head coach Tom Currier looked over his Hawks as they practiced and replied, “There’s a lot of potential around.”

Currier started to rattle off names, like seniors Colin Kennelly and Julie Hinckley, and juniors Jake Stow and Chase Chura, before stopping to say, “I can almost name all of them.”

With a roster of 17 swimmers that is made up of mostly underclassmen, the Hawks are looking to tap into their potential and build off of last season when the team finished seventh at the NVL championship meet and 12th at the Class S championship.

Woodland lost last year’s captains — and leaders in and out of the pool — James Jensen, Donovan White and Jordan Baer to graduation, but Currier is confident this year’s upperclassmen will step up and fill the void.

“I definitely have people to fill their shoes, fill their events,” Currier said.

The Hawks will be lead this season by four seniors: Kennelly, Hinckley, Tom LandryMickett and Alyssa Varesio. Kennelly and Hinckley have championship experience and were part of relay squads that finished in the top 15 at the Class S meet last year.

The Hawks have a strong core of underclassmen. Stow and Chura competed in individual events at the Class S meet last year. Sophomores Greg Aldrich, Zack Arision, Jeff Varesio were vital pieces of the relay teams at the state championship.

Sophomore Riley Clark gives the Hawks a presence on the diving board. As a freshman, Clark returned from injury to finish fifth and 13th in diving at NVLs and states, respectively.

Currier said Clark’s return from injury last year is a testament to his character. Currier said Clark is more comfortable on the board and in better shape this season.

Freshman Brandon McCusker, one of four freshman on the team, is looking to join Clark on the diving board this season.

Having a diving threat is a luxury the Hawks haven’t had in years past.

“It’s huge we usually just have to give those points away and we finally don’t have to,” Currier said. “We can actually compete for points for diving, which adds up.”

With the first meet days away, the Hawks are hard at work getting into competitive shape. For Currier, the goals for the season ahead are simple.

“Have fun, work hard and improve. … The thing about swimming is it’s against the clock, so if everybody’s getting faster then we’re doing the right thing. You can’t ask for anything more than that,” he said.

Woodland opens the season Dec. 20 at home versus Crosby/Waterbury Career Academy.