MONROE — Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming team made a nice splash in a competition against the best in the conference. The Nighthawks had a trio of individual/relay event champions and a record-setting performance at the South-West Conference Championships, hosted by Masuk High on March 2. The Nighthawks placed fifth as a team with 286 points; Pomperaug of Southbury was first with 647.

Horan set an SWC meet record with his first-place 100 yard backstroke time of 51.81 seconds, which broke the previous mark by seven one hundredths of a second.

“For him to do this tonight is great,” said Newtown Coach Ryan Eberts, noting that Horan has not been at full strength due to injury and illness, and more good things are expected in the upcoming state championships. Horan broke the Class L state meet record last winter.

Newtown’s 200 yard medley relay comprising Horan, Grant Carson, Gabe Petertonjes, and Connor Kwarcinski won with a time of 1:41.39, narrowly edging Weston’s relay, which came in at 1:41.73. Kwarcinski claimed first in the 50 freestyle in 21.69.

“Couldn’t be prouder of the medley. They rose to the occasion and showed so much heart,” Eberts said. “Connor has worked so hard all year and that 50 free was a thing of beauty.”

In the 200 yard freestyle race, James Guerrieri placed tenth in 1:59.85. In the 200 individual medley event, Petertonjes was eighth in 2:12.63 and Carson 11th in 2:17.56. In the 50 free, Kris Luci-Bernard was 17th in 24.84 and Hayden Bobowick came in 18th in 24.85. Petertonjes came in fifth in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.83.

Newtown’s best competition, as it turned out, was itself in the 100 freestyle race. Horan and Kwarcinski finished one-two in the 100 free with Horan clocking in at 47.50 and Kwarcinski following in 48.34; Bobowick also scored points in the 100 by finishing 15th in 55.19.

“That 100 free with Peter winning and Connor taking second was great to watch,” Eberts said.

Newtown got a ninth-place finish from Oliver Clancy in the 500 free as Clancy made his final touch in 5:43.74; John Barzetti came in 11th in the 500 with a time of 6:00.84.

The 200 free relay of Guerrieri, Barzetti, Carson, and Bobowick placed seventh in 1:42.43. In the 100 backstroke race, Guerrieri was 13th in 1:03.05 and Clancy took 16th in 1:06.30. Carson placed 11th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.71 and Jeremiah Stone was 17th in the race in 1:14.68.

Newtown’s 400 free relay of Kwarcinski, Guerrieri, Petertonjes, and Horan placed third in 3:22.47.

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