Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team competed against two of the tougher teams in the South-West Conference February 7 and 11, and lost both meets but showed plenty of good signs in the process.

The Nighthawks fell 90-86 to visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on February 7. Pomperaug sealed the team win before exhibitioning the final four events. Then the Hawks entertained Weston and were edged 93-92.

In the Pomperaug meet, Alex Gadbut was second in the 200 yard freestyle race with a time of 1:58.66. Leo Van Straten came in second in the 100 butterfly race in 59.91. Finn Clancy took second in the 100 free in 54.53. The 200 free relay of Elias Kolb, Van Straten, Clancy, and Warren Ache earned second in 1:40.62.

Third-place outcomes were turned in by the 200 medley relay team of Oliver Clancy, Van Straten, Johnny Barzetti, and Ache (1:53.87), Barzetti in the 200 individual medley (2:19.11), Ache in the 50 free (25.08), Barzetti in the 100 butterfly (1:01.41), Gadbut in the 500 (5:25.57), Oliver Clancy in the 100 backstroke (1:09.61), and Duncan Kolb in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.10).

“This is about as good as we could have hoped for,” said Coach Ryan Eberts, who was impressed with several individual and relay performances against a tough squad.

Eberts said strong efforts were turned in by, in particular, Duncan Kolb, Andrew Faircloth, captains Barzetti and Oliver Clancy, and divers Story and Ache.

The Weston meet was close the whole way through and came down to the final event with many of the Nighthawks punching their tickets to the South-West Conference and State Championship meets. Weston won all but one event but Newtown piled up second- and third-place results to rack up key points.

Newtown’s 200 medley relay of Oliver Clancy, Duncan Kolb, Barzetti, and Ache placed second in 1:51.72, just behind Weston’s winning relay with a time of 1:51.08.

Finn Clancy took second in the 200 free in 2:01.89. Elias Kolb was second in the 50 in 24.80. Barzetti was second in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.45. Finn Clancy placed second in the 100 free in 54.24. Gadbut was runner-up in the 500, making his final touch in 5:23.44.

The 200 free relay was first as Elias Kolb, Van Straten, Finn Clancy, and Ache clocked in at 1:42.83. Oliver Clancy was second in the 100 backstroke race in a time of 1:05.10. Duncan Kolb placed second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.10, less than one second behind Weston’s race winner. The 400 free relay comprising Finn Clancy, Barzetti, Oliver Clancy, and Gadbut, came in second in 3:48.89.

Newtown’s third place finishers: The 200 medley relay of Gadbut, Van Straten, Kyle Albrecht, and Elias Kolb in 1:56.66; Gadbut in the 200 in 2:04.70; Ache third in diving with a score of 152.70; Van Straten in the 100 fly in 1:02.40; Ache in the 100 free in 54.46; Oliver Clancy in the 500 in 5:29.45; the 200 free relay comprising Brady Wennerholm, Trenton Story, Connor Kelly, and Albrecht in 1:48.08; Van Straten in the breaststroke in 1:10.42; and the 400 relay of Kelly, Wennerholm, Sam Irving, and Duncan Kolb in 4:01.38.

“We are really proud of how the boys swam against a small but strong Weston team. We do not usually contend with Weston so closely but the boys showed a ton of grit tonight. They swam with heart until the very end and, in the process, posted many best times as well as several new SWC and State time cuts,” Assistant Coach Lisa Irving said. “Our captains Johnny Barzetti and Oliver Clancy showed great leadership and both turned in strong performances. Other top performers were Duncan Kolb, Finn Clancy, and Warren Ache. But, overall, this meet was a huge team effort. Despite the score this was a successful meet. We are looking forward to seeing this group perform in the last two regular season meets and then the postseason.”

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