By Kim J. Harmon

STRATFORD – After being rough up a little bit by New Fairfield last week, the Lady Nighthawks were in need of a breather . . . and they got it Tuesday afternoon with an easy win over the Stratford Red Devils.

The Lady Red Devils were down in numbers and simply out-manned in the pool. But even had the host team had good numbers, the Lady Nighthawks probably would have made it a difficult afternoon anyway.

That’s because swimmers like Melissa Rushefski, Kate Ryan, Lauren Coulter and Liz Sovern were as strong as ever and even turned in – like Ryan in the 200 individual medley – some whopping good times.

It wasn’t so easy against New Fairfield, though. Coulter, who was all but unstoppable in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles this season, was finally bested – by just .57 seconds in the 50 and 6.46 seconds in the 100.

The Lady Rebels were deep and strong and the 94-87 final score was misleading in that New Fairfield began swimming some lanes unofficially starting with the 500-yard freestyle.

The Lady Nighthawks were set to battle Joel Barlow on Wednesday afternoon, their first meet under the watchful lights of the new scoreboard. On Tuesday, the ‘Hawks will host SWC power Lauralton Hall on what will be Senior Night.

New Fairfield 94, Newtown 87

200 medley relay – New Fairfield (2:08.07), 2. Newtown (2:13.68), 3. New Fairfield (2:20.22).

200 freestyle – 1. Coles (NF) 2:09.61, 2. Rushefski (N) 2:13.76, 3. Winton (N) 2:23.43, 4. Urbach (NF) 2:25.58), 5. Arsenedis (NF) 2:41.72.

200 individual medley – 1. New Fairfield 2:24.42, 2. Ashey (N) 2:41.73, 3. New Fairfield 2:44.46, 4. New Fairfield 3:05.35, 5. Bayles (N) 3:07.33.

50 freestyle – Klein (NF) 27.38, 2. Coulter (N) 27.95, 3. Balzer (NF) 28.84, 4. Urbach (NF) 29.56), 5. Rastelli (N) 31.50.

Diving – 1. New Fairfield, 2. Samuels (N) 148.25 points, 3. New Fairfield, 4. Alley Leuzzi (N) 75.30 points.

100 butterfly – 1. Coles (NF) 1:08.53, 2. Ryan (N) 1:16.69, 3. Orwell (NF) 1:21.51, 4. Weuerle (NF) 1:31.54, 5. Portnoy (N) 1:34.47.

100 freestyle – 1. Klein (NF) 1:13.01, 2. Coulter (N) 1:19.47, 3. Balzer (NF) 1:21.59, 4. Urbach (NF), 5. Rebs (N) 1:20.92.

500 freestyle – 1. Rushefski (N) 6:00.53, 2. Ashey (N) 6:24.47, 3. Urbach (NF) 6:37.70, 4. Sovern (N) 6:42.42.

200 freestyle relay – 1. New Fairfield (2:03.81), 2. Newtown (2:09.71), 3. New Fairfield (2:15.85).

100 backstroke – 1. Ryan (N) 1:14.12, 2. Orwell (NF) 1:18.70, 3. Rastelli (N) 1:25.17, 4. Krampinger (NF) 1:25.38, 5. Kowarick (N) 1:33.48.

100 breaststroke – 1. Sovern (N) 1:22.86, 2. Winton (N) 1:23.74, 3. Arsenides (NF) 1:25.79, 4. Bayles (N) 1:29.75.

400 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (4:27.40), 2. Newtown (4:57.05), 3. Newtown (5:27.19).