Coach Adam Fielding said his talk to the Newtown High School boys’ swimmers before a February 8 home meet against Masuk of Monroe was that if everybody did what they needed to do they would come out on top.

“Everybody did their job and we won by a good margin,” Fielding said after the Nighthawks prevailed 92-78. “That’s what this team is about is everyone doing their job.”

Depth has been key to Newtown’s success as the Hawks picked up their fifth win in six meets. With one of Newtown’s top swimmers, Gabe Petertonjes, sidelined for the clash with Masuk others had to step up and did as the Nighthawks slowly pulled ahead of the Panthers. The teams went back and fourth in each event and the Hawks led by just six points through seven of the 11 events before grabbing control with first-place finishes in three of the last four races.

The 200 yard medley relay team of Peter Horan, Grant Carson, Daniel Naulaguari, and Deagan Granville was second in a time of 1:50.55 to begin the meet.

Matt Irving placed second in the event number two, the 200 freestyle race in 1:57.47, but Newtown evened the team score with third- and fourth-place finishes.

Horan won the 200 individual medley, clocking in at 2:09.41. Connor Kwarcinski was first in the 50 free in 23.23. Max Luci-Bernard gave NHS a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly race in a time of 1:01.05. Newtown finished one-two in the 100 free as Kwarcinski clocked in with a time of 51.48 and Irving followed in 55.03, and Newtown built a ten-point lead. Newtown’s best finisher in the 500 was James Guerrieri, who placed third in 5:46.19.

Newtown’s 200 free relay team of Kwarcinski, Kris Luci-Bernard, Max Luci-Bernard, and Irving came in first in 1:37.36. The Nighthawks also got third in the relay event and built a 14-point team lead at 68-54.

Horan was first in the 100 backstroke race in 54.55, and Carson took second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:11.58 as NHS carried an 82-74 lead going into the final event.

The 400 free relay contingent of Kwarcinski, Irving, Max Luci-Bernard, and Horan was first in 3:29.10.

Newtown is scheduled to host Brookfield on Thursday, February 10, at 4 pm; both teams went into the matchup having been defeated only by Pomperaug of Southbury.

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