So far, so good for Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team, which has somewhat of a new look after losing nine graduates, including four team record holders, to graduation a year ago. This year’s version of the Nighthawks is making strides toward some success of its own in the not too distant future.

The Nighthawks, after defeating visiting New Milford 96-79 on September 29, stand at 2-1; the loss came to perennial state and South-West Conference powerhouse Weston. Despite the 96-87 setback at Weston, on September 25, Newtown Coach Zach Gauvin saw some positives.

“I think we swam really well against the Class S state champs,” Gauvin said. “We had a number of girls already achieve season goals at that meet.”

Not bad considering it was only the second competition of the campaign. There’s a long way to go, maybe not in terms of days, but as far as the season schedule is concerned, before the postseason rolls around. The Nighthawks still have about two-thirds of their schedule remaining until they embark on SWC and state postseasons in early November.

Gauvin said his team members are improving times in meets as well as in practices.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

Against Weston, Newtown’s 200 yard medley relay team of Casey Klein, Maddie Carter, Julia DiMartino, and Mary Hufziger was second in a time of 2:00.74.

Bridget Duero recorded a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle event, making her final touch in 2:06.85. Newtown’s best finish in the 200 individual medley was Carter’s third-place outcome, in 2:27.41.

Hufziger won the 50 free, sprinting to a finish in 25.94. In another first-place performance, diver Gillian Eckwall scored 262.50 to lead the way.

Out of the diving break, Klein took third in the 100 butterfly race with a time of 1:06.82. Hufziger was second in the 100 free, clocking in at 55.40. Duero placed third in the 500 free in 5:48.11.

The 200 free relay team of Carter, Gianna Terracino, DiMartino, and Emma Brantl was second in 1:52.90.

Klein was runner-up in the 100 backstroke race, coming in with a time of 1:07.69. Carter claimed third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.01.

The 400 free relay contingent of Amanda Berry, Amanda Trampasch, Keeley Bauman, and Laura Carson was second in 4:31.03.

Against New Milford, the Hawks recorded first-place finishes in each of the first nine events before exhibitioning the final three at the time the meet outcome was determined.

The 200 medley relay team of Duero, Carter, Klein, and Brantl was first in 2:05.62, Hufziger won the 200 freestyle race in 2:05.12. Brantl was tops in the 200 IM, finishing in 2:30.43. Terracino won the 50 free in 28.18.

Newtown finished one-two-three in the diving competition. Emma Wolfman was first, and Sarah McMullan and Kiera Sughrue placed second and third, respectively.

Klein won the butterfly race in 1:06.26, and Duero took the top spot in the 50 free in a time of 59.52.

The 200 free relay team of Cecilia Schoeni, Terracino, Alex Ferris, and Hufziger was first in 1:53.86.

Newtown visits New Fairfield on Friday, October 2, for a 4 pm meet. The Hawks return home to take on Pomperaug of Southbury on Tuesday, October 6, beginning at 7 pm.