NHS Swimmers Enjoying Successful Season

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team is having a solid campaign, thanks to the continued efforts of veteran standouts and emergence of younger participants.

The team’s only loss in six meets came to one of the South-West Conference’s best, Brookfield, a week and a half ago and the swimmers have been improving on their times at a good pace since the season started, Coach Matt Childs said.

“We’re really setting ourselves up for a great conference championship and a state championship meet. As long as we can stay healthy — continue to train like we have been — we’re going to have an excellent year when it’s all said and done,” Childs said.

The Nighthawks have not been as healthy as they would have liked throughout this campaign. Senior captain Alex Kron suffered a nonswimming-related injury, a torn meniscus, early on, and will be out for the season after swimming in just one meet.

“It’s pretty disappointing. I was really looking forward to my senior year, but things happen,” he said. “I’m trying to help out Coach Childs as much as I can.”

Kron works with the coaches and swimmers in practice and helps push the competitors as they prepare for upcoming meets.

Among those who have stepped up are juniors Dan Hufziger and Conor Donnelly.

Hufziger and Donnelly have contributed in individual events as well as in relays.

“It’s fun — I like when we win. It definitely pays off being in the weight room and working hard in practice,” Hufziger said.

Although the Brookfield result goes into the record books as a loss, there were some strong event performances by the Nighthawks. Hufziger had three second-place finishes and was part of a first-place relay team and Donnelly was also a part of a winning relay team.

“I think the Brookfield meet really showed some of the potential a lot of them have,” Kron said. “A lot of the guys are stepping up.”

Leading the way has been senior captain Luke Fiore, whom Childs points out is one of the best swimmers in the state and has not lost a race this year. Fiore competes in relay events along with the 50-yard and 100 freestyle events.

“We’re a good team this year so it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to states and SWCs to see what we can do,” Fiore said.

In the diving event, Maggie Korth, who participates on the boys’ team because she plays another sport during the girls’ swim season in the fall, qualified for the state championships with her best diving score of her career, a 160.60, against Brookfield.

“I love this team. All the people on it are really great,” Korth said.

The Nighthawks still have two of their toughest tests on the schedule ahead of them. Newtown will visit Pomperaug of Southbury in a meet originally slated to take place at NHS on January 19, and will end the season at home against always tough New Milford.