Newtown High School's boys swim team, in its first meet since before the holiday break, defeated host Bunnell-Stratford, at Flood Middle School, 81-62 on January 3.

With the Nighthawks a substantially deeper and more experienced team, Coach Adam Fielding challenged his team members by putting swimmers in unfamiliar events. The Nighthawks tested the waters, also, as a way to see where swimmers can shift depending on needs and matchups later in the season.

"We're exploring what we have today, and getting out of our comfort zone and having some fun," Fielding said. "I can learn what pieces I have and where I can put them in a meet that comes down to a touch."

The 200 yard medley relay team of Peter Fagerholm, David Lawrence, Mckinley Seaver, and Rick Irving was first in a time of 1:51.44. The 200 medley team of Jack Wojtowski, Colby Delia, Mason Suba, and Xavier Williams was second in 1:54.79.

Mike Annesley won the 200 freestyle race in a time of 1:59.03. Josh Bent was second in 2:14.53.

In the 200 individual medley, Suba was first in 2:10.02. Wojtowski was runner-up in 2:35.10.

Fagerholm won the 50 free in 23.59. Irving placed second in 25.08.

Fagerholm was first in the 100 yard butterfly, making his final touch in 59.56. Newtown exhibitioned throughout much of the remainder of the meet. Lawrence had the second-fastest time in the 100 fly, clocking in at 1:02.93.

In the 100 free, Suba was first in 52.47. Wojtowski was next in 1:01.58.

Irving was first in the 500 free, finishing in 5:38.64.

The 200 free relay contingent of Lawrence, Wojtowski, Fagerholm, and Annesley was fastest in 1:38.49, just ahead of Delia, Suba, Irving, and Seaver with a time of 1:39.73.

Williams was first in the 100 backstroke race in 1:05.48.

Delia won the 100 breaststroke event in 1:09.39. Lawrence finished in 1:12.07.

The fastest team in the 400 free relay event comprised Sean McCleary, Bent, Annesley, and Williams with a time of 4:04.12.

The meet served as a reunion of sorts for the coaches. Fielding previously coached the Bunnell boys and Bunnell's new coach is Missy Carroll, the former Nighthawk diving coach. Bunnell-Stratford Assistant Abby Eannotti also swam for Fielding.

Newtown was home for a meet against New Milford on January 9. The team missed practice because of snow the day before so Fielding took advantage of another likely win and held an hour of practice before the meet so as not to lose the practice time. The Nighthawks swam tired but passed this endurance test of sorts with relative ease, 89-84, exhibitioning in one or more lanes of five events along the way.

The 200 medley relay of Fagerholm, Lawrence, Annesley, and Wojtowski won in a time of 1:52.20. The 200 medley team of Michael Yu, Kevin Tran, Suba, and Irving was second in 1:55.59.

Williams won the 200 free in 2:02.57, and Delia was second in 2:03.38.

Fagerholm took the top spot in the 200 IM, clocking in with a time of 2:10.62.

Newtown had the top three finishers in the 50 free as Annesley (24.15), Suba (24.18), and Lawrence (24.37) led the way.

Diver Aidan Stout had a score of 147.05.

Suba was first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.02. Annesley finished in 57.61.

Fagerholm exhibitioned in the 100 free and had the fastest time, 51.37, and Irving finished in 54.56.

McCleary won the 500 free, making his final touch in 5:51.21. Josh Bent exhibitioned and was next in 6:00.33.

The 200 free relay contingent of Delia, Lawrence, Suba, and Tran was first in 1:39.33.

Williams exhibitioned in the 100 backstroke and was the fastest to finish, recording a time of 1:04.10. Yu was the official winner with a time of 1:06.89.

Delia won the 100 breaststroke event in 1:01.05.

Newtown exhibitioned in the 400 relay and Williams, McCleary, Wojtowski, and Bent had the second-fastest time overall, finishing in 3:58.19.