By Kim J. Harmon

The Nighthawks were not about to let a loss to New Fairfield – always a strong South-West Conference team – stop them from doing what they had to do against Stratford.

Going in with a 2-5 record, the ‘Hawks knew they had an opportunity for another win and quickly took advantage of it with a 91-82 decision over the Red Devils on Tuesday afternoon that was not nearly as close as the final score would indicate.

Melissa Rushefski was a double winner with first-place finishes in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle, Margaret Ashey (200 freestyle), Tracey Samuels (diving), Ashley Molden (100 butterfly) and Kerin Sovern (500 freestyle) were all individual winners before the ‘Hawks went to swimming unofficially.

The results:

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown 2:10.15, 2. Stratford 2:30.15, 3. Newtown 2:30.98.

200 freestyle – 1. Margaret Ashey (N) 2:13.71, 2. Heather Rebb (N) 2:33.63, 3. Marer (S) 2:41.12, 4. Chrissy Glander (N) 2:43.26, 5. Sabas (S) 3:05.46.

200 individual medley – 1. Melissa Rushefski (N) 2:32.55, 2. Ashley Molden (N) 2:34.87, 3. Essig (S) 2:52.66, 4. Jamie Minalgo (N) 2:56.90, 5. A. Sabas (S) 3:37.84.

50 freestyle – 1. Kay (S) 29.92, 2. Liz Portnoy (N) 31.55, 3. Arena (S) 32.55, 5. Omallu (S) 32.31, 5. Kate Hoolehan (N) 33.13.

Diving – 1. Tracey Samuels (N) 145 points, 2. Zoux (S) 123.25 points, 3. Hawley (S) 109.40 points.

100 butterfly – 1. Ashley Molden (N) 1:12.97, 2. Liz Portnoy (N) 1:21.38, 3. Jessica Kovatch (N) 1:37.43, 4. Ford (S) 1:37.45, 5. Moman (S) 2:23.75.

100 freestyle – 1. Melissa Rushefski (N) 1:03.05, 2. Kay (S) 1:07.40, 3. Heather Rebb (N) 1:08.25, 4. Liz Cupero (N) 1:16.73, 5. Kula (S) 1:30.60.

500 freestyle – 1. Liz Sovern (N) 6:28.41, 2. Rachel Rastelli (N) 6:52.69, 3. Murse (S) 7:22.07, 4. Becky Singer (N) 7:21.39, 5. Arena (S) 7:59.77.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Stratford 2:06.12, 2. Newtown 2:24.40, 3. Stratford 2:42.24.

With an 87-50 lead following the 200 freestyle relay, the Nighthawks swam the 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, and 400 freestyle relay unofficially.