Rival Teams Honor Former Newtown Swimmer, Collect Donations

By Andy Hutchison

Every time the Newtown and Brookfield High School boys’ swimming and diving teams get together, the meet has special meaning — and not only because of the natural rivalry created by the fact many of the swimmers from the competing teams know each other from swim clubs. That intensity and wins and losses take a back seat to the biggest reason this meet has so much significance: It serves as a fundraiser and way to honor a former Newtown swimmer.

Greg Chion, a former member of the Nighthawks’ swim team, lost his battle with leukemia in October 2000 at the age of 17. His coach at the time, Brian Reiff, is now the head coach at Brookfield. For the past five years, the two schools have had a suggested donation for an entry fee for the annual meet and all of the admission collected, along with additional donations, go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America in memory of Chion.

On Tuesday evening fans of both teams and supportive community members packed the bleachers that overlook the pool where Chion once swam. A ceremony was held prior to the meet and the current NHS and Brookfield swimmers took to the water with a Chion on their minds.

“He had a big heart, was a great competitor — cared about the team,” Reiff, a nine-year coach at NHS said of Chion.

Chion was a senior and co-captain on the Nighthawks when he lost his nine-month battle with the disease. His memory lives on in the tightly-knit swimming community thanks to the efforts of several coaches and athletic administrators, along with those of the public.

Reiff, along with his NHS successor Matt Childs, NHS Athletic Director Gregg Simon, and Newtown’s Assistant AD Carl Strait (who was an assistant coach under Reiff) decided to hold the meet in honor of the former swimmer and collect money for a good cause. The teams have raised more than $5,000 throughout the years.

“I think this is one of the most important things we do here with our team,” Childs said. “People always walk up and donate more than we would ever expect or need them to.”

A memorial plaque hangs on the wall inside the pool complex and describes Chion as a “classmate, teammate, friend … forever.”

Reiff said Chion was a good student and involved in the band. He had a lot going on, but swimming was a big part of his life, the coach recalls.

“Greg was certainly a big leader on our team — an all-around great kid,” Reiff said.

“He was a kid who was a great role model in every sense of the term,” said Simon, adding that Newtown’s athletic office also holds a balloon sale to raise money in memory of Chion every year.

“It’s a wonderful way to honor him during the course of the year and keep his memory alive,” Simon said of the balloon sale and swim meet efforts.