The Naugatuck and Woodland girls swim teams are hitting their stride as the NVL championship meet approaches.
The NVL time trials are Nov. 1, followed by the NVL diving championship Nov. 2 and the championship meet Nov. 4 at Kennedy High School in Waterbury.
Naugatuck, winners of the last two regular season meets, comes in with a 5-6 mark after defeating Wilby/Kaynor, 80-67, on Oct. 21. Addison Best (200 free, 500 free) and Olivia Filanowski (50 free, 100 free) were double winners to lead the Greyhounds.
“We are continuing to improve on our times,” Naugatuck head coach Jim McKee said. “We have a lot of young swimmers who are getting better and our freshman Molly Kennelly has the talent to finish in the top six in a few races.
“We have a couple of seniors, Addison and Olivia, who can also place in the top six in a few events. It all comes down to having your best day.”
Best was an All-NVL swimmer last season finishing second in the 500 and fifth in the 200 freestyle. Filanowski was part of the fifth-place 400 relay squad last year and the seventh-place 200 medley relay team.
Woodland finished the regular season 10-2, the team’s best record since 2011 when the Hawks set the school record in wins at 13-1-1 and finished third at the NVL championship.
Woodland capped the regular season with a 97-70 win over Kennedy on Oct. 21. Dia Gawronski continued to break school records setting a new time in the 50 freestyle in 25.48. She also took first in the 100 butterfly. Tatianna Lynn also was a double winner for the Hawks in the 200 IM and the 500 freestyle.
“The girls have been working hard and are now in a position to hopefully turn in good performances at the NVL championship,” Woodland head coach Mike Magas said. “I want them to go in there being relaxed, confident and enjoy each moment during this time. I’m proud of what they have accomplished so far this year and I know they will be prepared to give it their all.”
The Hawks finished fifth at last year’s meet, but will look to move up and be one of the contenders led by Gawronski, who has set four school records this season. Woodland will also come in with some experience. Lynn swam as part of two relay teams last year that had top ten finishes. Brooke Pope and Kyla Drewry swam on all three relays teams last year that placed in the top ten.
Woodland defeated Watertown this season for the first time, but their two losses came against the top two teams in the league: Seymour and Sacred Heart. The Wildcats and the Hearts are the favorites going into the championship meet but both Woodland and Naugatuck have the talent to contend for more than a few races.
Naugatuck and Woodland will also be forces on the diving board.
Katie Brown was eighth in diving last year for the Greyhounds and showed significant improvement this season. Woodland outscored the rest of the field at last year’s diving championship and will once again field a strong squad led by Maddie Hoxie and Julianna Bartolucci.
