With the postseason drawing closer, Newtown High School’s girls’ swim team members’ times are not dropping like they were early on in the season, but for good reason: Fatigue.

“We’ve been doing the hardest work of the season, by far, this week,” Coach Zach Gauvin said after his team earned an 86-74 road win over Stratford, exhibitioning the final four events after securing the team win, on October 9.

“We’re getting into that final push into the championship season,” Gauvin said.

The Nighthawks, who were scheduled to host the Immaculate/Bethel team on Thursday, October 15, still have four more meets remaining before the South-West Conference championships kick off the postseason, in early November.

“It’s been tough,” Newtown captain Casey Klein said of the workouts. Klein is part of the school’s 200 yard medley relay team that won the event against Stratford, but was about four seconds slower than the time it recorded in its previous meet, when the Nighthawks beat Pomperaug of Southbury, only three days earlier.

“We’re hoping that most everyone makes it to SWCs. We’re hoping for a good amount of people to go to states this year, too,” said Klein, referring to the mid-November state championships.

Against Stratford, the 200 yard medley relay team of Megan Olszewski, Emma Brantl, Klein, and Mary Hufziger finished first in a time of 2:04.23. Maddie Carter won the 200 freestyle race in 2:10.77. Gianna Terracino was first in the 50 free, making her final touch in 27.88. Carter won the 100 butterfly event in 1:08.80. Terracino took first in the 100 free in 1:01.53. Bridget Duero earned first in the 500 free in 5:58.94. The 200 free relay team of Carter, Terracino, Brantl, and Amanda Berry had the fastest time in 1:54.57. Hufziger was the first to finish the 100 backstroke race, in 1:10.70. The 400 free relay team of Emma Johnson, Melissa Nowak, Hailey Pankow, and Rose Wheway logged the best event time, finishing in 4:16.74.

Newtown will visit Bunnell of Stratford on Tuesday, October 20, beginning at 6:30 pm, visit Brookfield on Friday, October 23, at 4 pm, and close out the regular season at Masuk of Monroe on Tuesday, October 27, also at 4 o’clock. The Brookfield meet, since the Bobcats are traditionally one of the best teams in the conference as well as in Class M state competition, is one Gauvin has circled on the schedule as one that will serve as a good barometer of where his team stands.