Sometimes second is best. Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team went on the road and defeated the New Milford Green Wave 99-59 on January 14 behind a multitude of second-place finishes. The Nighthawks, despite splitting a dozen first-place event finishes with the Wave, pulled away and exhibitioned the final two races behind their depth.

In addition to a half-dozen first-place outcomes the Hawks logged 11 second-place finishes and eight third-place results to improve to 2-1 this winter.

The 200 yard medley relay team of Oliver Clancy, Duncan Kolb, Leo Van Straten, and Warren Ache was second in a time of 1:51.64. The relay of Brady Wennerholm, Sam Irving, Kyle Albrecht, and Trevor Story finished third in 2:08.07. In the 200 freestyle race Alex Gadbut took first in 2:01.35 and was followed by teammates Johnny Barzetti (2:07.71) and Jack Pettit (2:18.10) for a one-two-three Hawk outcome. Van Straten claimed second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:19.77. Ache was second in the 50 free, sprinting to the finish in 24.63 and Kolb was third in the 50 with a time of 26.14.

The Nighthawks held a nine-point lead heading into the diving competition and began to pull away. Ache took first with a score of 116.25 and Story second with a score of 111.025.

Out of the diving break Newtown had a one-two finish in the 100 butterfly event as Barzetti clocked in at 1:02.53 and Albrecht was runner-up in 1:05.83. Gadbut took second in the 100 free with a time of 53.84 and Kolb was third in the 100 with a 59.58. NHS recorded the top three spots in the 500; Clancy won the event, making his final touch in 5:29.97, Irving was second in 5:56.28, and Pettit third in 6:26.18.

In the 200 free relay Gadbut, Van Straten, Ache, and Barzetti came in first in 1:42.14, seven seconds faster than New Milford’s top relay. Ryan Lombard, Connor Kelly, Story, and Albrecht took third in 1:55.00.

Clancy was first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:03.84 and Wennerholm placed second in 1:14.88. Van Straten was the second-fastest swimmer in the 100 breaststroke race in 1:15.20, and Irving came in third in the event with a 1:18.15.

In the 400 free relay the contingent of Barzetti, Gadbut, Kolb, and Clancy was runner-up with a time of 3:53.52; the relay team of Story, Pettit, Kelly, and Irving was third in 4:15.13.

Newtown will be home on Friday, January 17, for a nonconference meet with Oxford, and — after an extended stretch between meets — will return to South-West Conference action with a Tuesday, January 28, visit to New Fairfield — both at 4 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.