During the preseason, Newtown Coach Zach Gauvin said his goal was for all 22 of his team members to qualify for the South-West Conference championships. Gauvin's aspiration was 90 percent met as 20 Nighthawk swimmers and divers qualified for the SWC meet, which took place at Masuk High in Monroe March 2 and 4.

After the diving portion of the meet was held on March 2, the swimming events took place two nights later. Newtown scored 283.50 points to place fourth among ten schools. Pomperaug of Southbury was first with 647 points, Weston took second with 449, and Brookfield placed third with 362.50. The trio of defending state champs continue to dominate the top few spots in the SWC, but Newtown had a meet within the meet as the Nighthawks sought to overtake rival New Fairfield. Newtown succeeded, beating out the Rebels, who finished fifth with 252 points.

The Nighthawks were beaten by New Fairfield during the regular season, making this effort all the more impressive, and satisfying, for Gauvin and company.

"It really shows how our boys stepped up and performed against tough competition," said the Newtown coach, adding that his team members recorded best times up and down the lineup.

The Nighthawks began Class LL state championship action with the diving portion of the finals on March 9 and the swimming qualifying stage three days later. Ian Humber was fourth with a score of 384.80, and Kyle Gaynor placed 13th with a score of 327.75. The swimming finals will be held at Wesleyan University in Middletown on March 16.

"They've really gelled this year as a team. Tonight was definitely a huge step forward for them as a team," Gauvin said after the SWC meet.

The divers had a strong performance in the conference competition as Gaynor scored 420 points to place third and Humber had 399.30 to earn fourth.

Tommy Horan was runner-up in the 100 yard freestyle race in a time of 49.70 and also placed second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.69. Peter Fagerholm took third in the 500, making his final touch in 5:01.63. Chris Lafky placed fourth in the 100 butterfly in 56.06. Owen Gray was fifth in the 50 yard freestyle race with a time of 22.90.

Newtown's 200 yard medley relay team of Horan, Caelan Ritter, Fagerholm, and Gray placed sixth in a time of 1:46.13.

Lafky was seventh in the 200 free, making his final touch in a time of 1:50.85. Fagerholm was seventh in the 200 IM in a time of 2:07.55. Mike Annesley was 18th in the 200 IM, clocking in with a time of 2:20.83. Annesly placed 14th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:01.92.

Gray placed tenth in the 100 free, finishing in 53.13. Xavier Williams was 17th in the 100, in 54.77. David Lawrence placed ninth in the 500, completing his race in 5:17.37.

The 200 free relay contingent of Williams, Annesley, Lafky, and Gray was sixth in 1:37.43.

Ritter was 12th in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:09.14. Sean MacMullan and Brandon Qiao came in 16th and 17th, respectively, in the 100 breast with times of 1:10.87 and 1:11.20.

Newtown's 400 free relay team of Lawrence, Fagerholm, Lafky, and Horan came in sixth in 3:33.58.

Nighthawks who didn't get into the scoring column improved times and performed well.

"Everybody, from top to bottom, really competed tough," Gauvin said. "This was a really good setup meet for states."