WATERBURY — The Naugatuck girls swam to fifth place at the NVL swim meet Nov. 1 at Kennedy High School — just 2.5 points behind fourth-place Oxford.
However, listening to coach Jim McKee and his team one would think Naugy finished in first.
“It is not that they swam good. They swam great,” McKee said. “Virtually anybody that hit the water swam their best.”
The Naugy coach was not overreacting. Many of his swimmers dropped their best times at the meet. This includes all of the Greyhounds’ relay teams.
That’s right. All of them.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Olivia Filanowski, Addison Best, Erica Spino and Tathiana Serrano, finished fourth (1:50.92), but still dropped their best time. On top of that, the 200 medley relay team of Spino, Serrano, Cara Rotatori and Alexandra Silva improved on their best time finishing fifth in 2:04.83.
Naugy’s great effort didn’t stop there. The Greyhounds’ hard work showed in the individual races as well.
Spino dropped her best time in the 50 free and the 100 yard butterfly. Rotatori dropped time in the 200 free and the 100 backstroke. Elizabeth Tuscano also dropped time in the 200 free, while Faith Tuscano dropped time in the 100 backstroke.
The list goes on.
Best did her best in the 200 free and the 500 free. Filanowski also improved her time in the 100 free.
McKee also pointed out two more girls from Wolcott that swam with Naugy who also made an impact at the meet.
“I have to point out Carrington Conner and Sara Burton, who swam their minds out,” McKee said.
Conner placed a very respectable third in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, while Burton was a part of a 400 free relay team that placed fourth.
Naugy’s performance last Saturday exceeded their own expectations because of how young they are, but Serrano knew it was possible because her team showed great effort throughout the season.
“Losing a lot of seniors last year hurt us but the newcomers this year really picked it up,” Serrano said. “We worked hard all season and Saturday proved it.”
Saturday was a great performance, indeed, but now Naugy must turn their focus to the Class M swim meet. Some girls have already qualified, including Rotatori, Serrano, Best, Silva, Falinowski, and Spino. Tuscano is also outside the bubble looking in to see if she can get a chance to compete.
Qualifying for the meet is scheduled for this Saturday. The championship is Nov. 11 at Wesleyan University in Middletown.
Co-captains Spino and Serrano say that the hard work can’t stop after Saturday. Their team has to keep the ball rolling going into states.
“I believe that the girls have more best times in them,” Serrano said.
Spino added, “I am very proud of what our team did but I think we still have more to come.”
