Coming off a runner-up finish in the South-West Conference championships, at Masuk High, on February 13, Newtown High School's wrestling team turns its attention to the Class LL state championships which will be held Friday and Saturday, February 19 and 20, at Trumbull High.

First round, round of 16, and first round consolation matches are on Friday will be followed up with a full day's worth of matches beginning around 9 am on Saturday.

The Nighthawks had three weight division champs in the conference meet. New Milford scored 246 points to win the 11-team competition; the Nighthawks had 166 points and the next closest team, New Fairfield, scored 140.50 for third.

Joe Accousti won the 170 pound weight division title, Anthony Falbo came out on top at 182, and Tom Long was first at 220.

Newtown also had four second-place finishers: Nik Accousti at 106, Aaron Occhipinti at 126, Ed Lovely at 145, and Alex Stavola at 152. Jack Wellman placed third at 120, and Owen Walsh was fourth in the 132 division.

The Nighthawks forfeited two weight classes - heavyweight because of not having a competitor in that slot, and 195-pounder Andy Hubina, who was sidelined with an injury.

"It's a little upsetting we couldn't have Andy wrestling," said Long, noting that Hubina is both an integral part of the team and a close friend.

Long defeated Bethel's Nick Cote in a 5-3 decision in the finals; he previously scored a 13-0 major decision over Masuk's Jordy Huebner in the quarterfinals and pinned eventual fourth-place finisher Julian Reza of New Milford in 2:43 of the semifinals.

"It just feels good," Long said after claiming the title. "I think the team did well overall. The competition was amazing this year, especially New Milford - they came out strong. New Fairfield was tough too."

On his way to winning the title, Falbo had a very fast semifinal-round match; he pinned New Milford's David Angulo (eventual third-place finisher) in just 13 seconds. Falbo then scored a 21-7 major decision over Pomperaug of Southbury's Will Foschi to take the title.

Newtown Coach Chris Bray said he challenges team members to try to get the fastest or most pins in tournaments.

"It keeps them engaged," Bray said.

Falbo has been in the zone all season, and has yet to lose a match.

"I'm looking to win everything this year and go completely undefeated," said Falbo, who won a Class LL individual state title, and state open championship, before finishing second in the New England Regional finals a year ago.

Joe Accousti won each of his three bouts via pinfall, as he pinned Weston's Jackson Aquas in 44 seconds, Masuk's Clayton Hoskins (the eventual third-place finisher) in 47 seconds, and New Milford's Kyle Fabich in 45 seconds.

"It felt really nice - good day," the 170-pound champ said.

Nik Accousti, a freshman, won his first two matches by pinfall before taking New Milford's Brandon Leonard into the third period before being pinned in 4:48.

Wellman earned one win at 120, was bumped into the wrestlebacks by eventual champion Mel Ortiz of New Milford, then won a major decision and a decision to claim third following a double bye.

Occhipinti had a hard-fought 1-0 decision defeat to New Milford's Tyler Schultz in the finals, after pinning his first two opponents of the day.

Walsh worked his way into the third-place match with three wins by decision and was pinned by Bethel's Robert Ruiz in 1:59.

Lovely pinned his first opponent, Ryan Moretti of Masuk, in 22 seconds, won a 16-3 major decision over eventual third-place finisher Willie McCallaster of Stratford, then lost a 10-4 decision to New Milford's Bryan Rojas in the pinnacle bout.

Alex Stavola pinned Pomperaug's Nathan Bennett in 36 seconds, earned a 9-1 major decision over eventual third-place winter Cameron Berger of New Milford, and lost 7-0 to Immaculate-Joel Barlow's Emmett LiCastri.

Also competing for Newtown were Justin Bogdanoff at 113, Jake Durate at 138, and Peter Mihok at 160,

The SWC championship is a big competition in its own right, but also serves as a tuneup for the rest of the postseason: The Class LL and state open championships, followed by the New England regional championships for the top competitors.

"It's a warmup for states - more a warmup for the open because you might see some of these guys you'll see at opens," said Bray, noting that the other SWC schools compete in different state classes.

Falbo noted that the Nighthawks, after breezing through the competition to conference and state championships a year ago, have had a more challenging road as a team this winter after losing about half of the starting lineup to graduation and also battling injuries along the way. The team has competed hard since the season began, and Falbo doesn't see anything changing until its completed.

The state open is set for the following weekend, at New Haven's Floyd Little Athletic Center.

"We're going to give it all we've got in these tournaments as well," Falbo said.