With the Boys Swim & Dive season underway, Woodland swimmers and divers are hunting to defend their NVL title. Woodland has led a unique season, not letting a smaller roster affect their domination. The Hawks roster is smaller this year than in years past, but this change isn’t affecting the Hawks’ performance in the pool. Starting the competition season strong, the Hawks faced Watertown High School in their first dual meet of the season. The meet ended in a 93-93 tie, with both teams showing off their strengths. In a more recent meet against another top competitor in the Naugatuck Valley League, Woodland beat Naugatuck High School in a very close and fierce meet. The Hawks also had an opportunity to test the waters in an invitational at Cornerstone Aquatics Center, where the Class S State Finals take place.
The Hawks had senior night on Friday, February 7th, celebrating their seven seniors. The Woodland Swim and Dive senior class consists of Zach Sharkey, Jack Bshara, and captains Alex Weisenbacher, Ryan Iannone, Nolan Bernier, Andrew Orlowski, and Edgar Jorge. It was a memorable senior night, with the Hawks beating Holy Cross in a dual meet for the first time in 19 years. The evening was filled with dashing swims, ripping dives, and loud relays. Immediately following the Hawks victory came a celebration of the team’s seniors, who have time and time again, shown their dedication to the team, whether it be their attitude in the pool or their process of approaching the freshmen, helping them feel welcome and get adjusted to the team.
The boys swim and dive senior night tradition starts with Coach Heller talking about each senior and their commitment to the team, followed by the senior walking down the pool deck with a song of their choice playing. The senior then has their “senior swim” when they swim down the pool and back with strokes of their choice. If the senior is a diver, they would get on the board and do a dive of their choice.
The NVL Championship is coming up fast, and the Hawks are eager to come out on top for the 4th year in a row. And the captains have specific goals in mind. The captains believe that the sense of unity in the team has strengthened as the season has progressed.
“I think we’ve stepped up a lot, we’ve come a lot closer to understand a hard work ethic better, we’re coming together much better as a team,” said captain Nolan Bernier. Senior captain Alex Weisenbacher agrees that the team’s success has improved as the team has come together better.
“Early on in the season we had some close calls in our meets, but I think as we have started to come together as a team we have definitely started to win some close races and overall perform better,” said Weisenbacher. There are pros and cons of the team having a smaller roster than in seasons past.
“For performance, it hurts us in the fact that we don’t have the numbers to put people in events they might want to do or every event for NVLs, but it helps us because people can get better at certain things and it brings us together a lot better as a team and brings us together as a whole,” said Bernier.
“The performance of the team is definitely hurt by this just because of our lack of ability to fill certain roles in events at NVLs. But I do think that it has made the team closer and everyone seems to have found their place,” stated Weisenbacher.
Having 5 captains, there are different types of leadership seen on the team. No matter how different each captain likes to lead they all have the same goal in mind.
“I think collectively all of our leadership styles are definitely tough and challenging with high expectations towards the other swimmers, working hard, but we also understand when they might be struggling or having trouble so we’re very supportive for the rest of the team as well,” Bernier responded.
“I think that each captain has a different style of leadership and they all work together. Some of the captains are more hard and like to push people, while others try to help teach and relate to the other swimmers on a more personal level,” Weisenbacher replied.
A part of the leadership styles seen on the team is a culture of high goals and expectations. The captains have shared some of the goals and expectations for the team.
“For expectations, to work very hard, show up everyday, give your best effort. For goals, NVLs and States will be a close battle but I’m hoping to come out on top and for everybody to improve and get best times, finish the season off strong,” Bernier said.
“I think the team goal is to win NVLs and place as high as we can in states as well as everyone dropping time in their respective events that they swim. For expectations, everyone needs to show up, work hard and persevere through each day to be their best when it comes to meeting these goals,” Weisenbacher responded.
With the NVL championship coming up, the captains have discussed their mindset as it approaches.
“Mindset is the same it’s been all season, to train and work hard, stick close together, but now more than ever it’s just as important. We need to come together as a team, and put forth our best effort in everything we do,” stated Bernier.
“My mindset approaching this NVL is to put my head down and do the work in order to get the best results possible at NVLs. I also think that keeping the team in a good mindset is also one of the most important things that needs to be done,” Weisenbacher said.
Deep in the season now, the strengths of the team have become clearer as NVLs are getting closer.
“I think our team’s biggest strength is how close we are together, what we’ve all been through as a team. We’ve been through some hard losses, tough practices, some exciting wins. As a team I think we are the closest together and have worked the hardest out of anybody in the NVL,” Bernier said.
“I think that our team’s biggest strengths are definitely the bond we all share regarding our friendships made throughout the hard training, friendships between victories and losses,” Weisenbacher stated, “Most importantly, our strength in all reaching our end goal in winning NVLs.”
