STRATFORD – Mission (part one) accomplished. Newtown High School’s wrestling team avenged last year’s nail-biting runner-up finish in the South-West Conference championships with a convincing victory in the February 14 conference tournament, at Bunnell High School.

The Nighthawks scored 258.5 points to defeat second-place New Milford, which had a stranglehold on the title since 2007, and managed 214 points this time around.

“As always, our strength is the fact we compete as a team – we’re a unit. Everybody on this team contributed. There’s not one guy on this team that didn’t score points for us,” Newtown Coach Chris Bray said.

The Nighthawks had ten grapplers reach the finals of their weight classes. Luca Crudo won the title in the 113 pound weight division, scoring a 5-2 decision over New Fairfield’s Alec Opsal. Ed Lovely captured the title at 126, edging Stratford’s Mike LaPia 3-2. Anthony Falbo came out on top in the 170 weight class, defeating Immaculate-Joel Barlow’s Elias Papadimitriou via pinfall in a time of 3:59. Andy Hubina took top honors at 195, claiming a 9-0 major decision over New Milford’s Denzel Phillips. Tom Long was the winner in the 220 division, when Bethel’s Jarred Willsey left their finals clash with an injury.

Up next for the Nighthawks is defense of their Class LL state championship. Read more about the SWC tourney in the February 20 print edition of The Bee.