Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming team is making nice progress as the regular season winds down and the long postseason fast approaches. In addition to standouts doing their thing with race wins and lowering times, there are team members who have elevated their games.

“It’s not just our top-end swimmers. We’re getting some great swims from our depth and guys moving into the top tier for us,” Newtown Coach Ryan Eberts said following his team’s 97-67 win over visiting Bunnell of Stratford on February 14.

Eberts noted that Oliver Clancy has dropped significant time in the 200 yard freestyle event as well as in the 500 free, and that Kris Luci-Bernard, John Barzetti, and Noah Masotta have all been improving at a high pace in a variety of swims.

“These guys are doing great,” Eberts said.

These swimmers will potentially score crucial points in postseason meets.

Gabe Petertonjes, one of Newtown’s top swimmers, had a breakout meet on February 14, swimming his best time in the 200 yard individual medley along the way and producing one of Newtown’s many first-place finishes. The Hawks won every event and exhibitioned the last two after sealing the team victory.

The 200 medley relay team of Peter Horan, Grant Carson, Max Luci-Bernard, and Brayden Hazard was first in 1:55.59. James Guerrieri, Jeremiah Stone, Petertonjes, and Hayden Bobowick gave NHS a second-place outcome in the relay event in 2:01.37.

Kris Luci-Bernard won the 200 freestyle race in 1:00.88 and Clancy was second in the event in 2:13.86. Petertonjes won the IM in 2:13.43, beating the closest competitor, from Bunnell-Stratford, by 11 seconds. Max Luci-Bernard sprinted to first in the 50 free in 23.53.

Horan swam an off event, the 100 butterfly and made it look easy, winning the race in 54.76, just about a second off the team record, and 12 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.

Newtown finished one-two in the 100 free as Guerrieri placed first in 56.77 and Bobowick followed in 59.47. Kris Luci-Bernard won the 500, making his final touch in 5:33.06. Clancy was second in the 500, coming in at 5:52.85.

The 200 free relay comprising Max Luci-Bernard, Carson, Hazard, and Horan won in 1:39.58, and the team of Bobowick, Barzetti, Stone, and Kris Luci-Bernard was second in 1:54.25.

Petertonjes was first in the 100 backstroke race, making his final touch in 1:03.46; Guerrieri was next in 1:05.76.

NHS exhibitioned the 100 breaststroke event and Carson was the fastest finisher with a time of 1:11.91; Bobowick was next in 1:22.39.

In the 400 free relay, the best time was turned in by Max Luci-Bernard, Hazard, Carson, and Horan with a 3:48.03. The next fastest relay comprised Clancy, Guerrieri, Kris Luci-Bernard, and Petertonjes with a time of 3:57.91.

Masotta had strong swims in the 200 free (2:28.43), 100 backstroke (1:23.51), as well as with Newtown’s third 400 relay team.

This was Senior Night and Carson, Hazard, Horan, Mike Kraminsky, and Max Luci-Bernard were honored after the meet.

The Nighthawks close out the regular season Tuesday, February 21, at New Milford at 7 pm.

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