Hawks off to fast start

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Woodland’s Kyla Drewry does the butterfly during the 200 medley relay Tuesday versus Watertown in Beacon Falls. Woodland won the meet, 100-86. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — The Hawks have started the season in rousing fashion, winning their first four meets and breaking school records in the process.

Woodland improved to 4-0 with a 100-86 win over Watertown on Tuesday.

Dia Gawronski swam a school record of 5:19.43 to win the 500 freestyle and also took first in the 200 freestyle (2:03.50). Allie Rojcov won the 200 IM (2:36.11) and the 100 butterfly (1:11.51). Brooke Pope took home first in the 50 freestyle (26.64) and the 100 freestyle (59.23).

The Hawks also took first in two relays with Rojcov, Morgan Swift, Gawronski and Camille Terrell winning the 200 medley and Rojcov, Swift, Casey Brooks and Pope winning the 200 freestyle.

The Hawks opened the season with a win over Jonathan Law, and followed up last week with wins over Windsor Locks and Suffield.  The victory over Law on Sept. 8 came down to the end of the meet, while the wins over Windsor Locks and Suffield were less dramatic.

Gawronski, Pope, Jordan Williams and Kyla Drewry — the team’s four captains — took first in the 400 free relay against Law to secure the win. They also won the 200 medley that day, and four days later broke the school record (2:02.98) in the same event against Windsor Locks.

“That was a great win for us,” Woodland head coach Mike Magas said of the win over Law. “(Law) has a freshmen class with talented swimmers and it was an extremely tough meet.”

Gawronski, last season’s most outstanding swimmer at the NVL championship, picked up where she left off. She won the 200 free and 500 free, while Pope also won two events (50 free and 100 free).

In addition to the seniors, Magas has been pleased with the second-year swimmers.

In the win over Suffield, juniors Swift and Terrell joined Williams and Drewry to win the 200 medley relay, while Brooks won the 100 free. Rojcov, another junior, joined Gawronski, Drewry, and Pope to win the 200 free against Windsor Locks, while Brooks won the 100 free.

Woodland’s Morgan Swift does the backstroke during the 200 IM Tuesday versus Watertown in Beacon Falls. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

“The sophomore class has really stepped up and taken on a boat load of responsibilities,” Magas said.

Magas said the Hawks have also benefited from depth in diving. Senior Maddie Hoxie has already won multiple diving events this season.

The most beneficial element to this year’s squad might be its depth. Magas said the team has 32 girls on the team — the most Woodland has seen in the program.

Woodland will need its seniors, younger swimmers and its depth as it dives into the NVL schedule.

The Hawks will know quickly where they stand in the NVL with meets against Seymour and Sacred Heart coming up.

“I’m happy with the way the girls have been working,” Magas said. “We’ll see where we are, there are a bunch of talented teams in our league.”

The Hawks will travel to Seymour for a meet on Friday, then host Sacred Heart on Sept. 26.