Newtown High School's girls' swimming and diving team defeated host Masuk 102.5-82.5 in the regular-season finale, on October 17.

Newtown's 200 yard medley relay team of Mary Hufziger, Maddie Carter, Olivia Renkert, and Caroline Mahoney finished in 1:59.20 and was narrowly edged out for first place by Masuk's relay team, by five hundredths of a second.

The Nighthawks also got third in the 200 medley relay as the team of Melissa Nowak, Emmi DeSousa, Amanda Berry, and Payton Bradley finished in 2:13.43.

Martha Seaver had Newtown's fastest time in the 200 freestyle, placing third as she made her final touch in 2:15.74.

Carter was first in the 200 yard individual medley race with a time of 2:22.05; Renkert placed third in 2:28.05.

Mahoney and Lianna Perazzo were second and third in the 50 free, sprinting to times of 27.59 and 28.63.

The diving competition was won by Kiera Sughrue with a score of 200.95, and Hannah Weatherby placed second with a score of 166.15.

Out of the diving break, the teams had a thrilling finish in the 100 butterfly as Renkert made her final touch in 1:06.45, just ahead of Masuk's second-place time of 1:06.89.

The Hawks went one-two in the 100 free as Hufziger and Mahoney logged times of 55.30 and 1:0016. Mahoney and Masuk's Erika Stone tied for second with matching times.

Grace Bertsche was second in the 500 free with a time of 6:12.19; Elise Johnson came in third, just behind her teammate, in 6:12.45.

In the 200 free relay race, Newtown took home second and third. The team of Emma Riebe, Renkert, Perazzo, and Carter was second in 1:52.36. The team of Julia DiMartino, Saver, Bradley, and Berry finished in 1:57.37.

Hufziger earned the top spot in the 100 backstroke race, clocking in with a time of 1:01.92; Riebe was third in 1:11.66.

Newtown's best time in the 100 breaststroke event was Carter's 1:14.09, good for second.

The 400 free relay of DiMartino, Mahoney, Riebe, and Hufziger was first in 4:01.99. Newtown's Seaver, Bradley, Bertsche, and Perazzo was third in 4:22.44.

"I'm extremely proud of them and they really stepped up today," Newtown Coach Becky Osborne said after the victory over Masuk.

The Nighthawks honored their final-year Nighthawks on Senior Night, the day before, with a 92-85 win over Bethel-Immaculate of Danbury.

Seniors Berry, Laura Carson, DiMartino, Katherine Donnelly, Kelly Garcia, Hufziger, Kira Kelly, Rose Wheway, and Nowak were recognized.

The 200 medley relay contingent of Hufziger, Carter, Renkert, and Mahoney was first in 1:59.85.

Hufziger won the 200 free in 2:01.73. Renkert took the top spot in the 200 IM in 2:27.91. Mahoney was first in the 50 with a time of 27.81.

DiMartino was second in the 100 fly in 1:10.75.

Hufziger won the 100 free in 55.81.

The 200 free relay of DiMartino, Berry, Carter, and Hufziger won in 1:53.01.

Newtown sealed the win after the 200 free relay event and exhibitioned the final three events, but had the fastest times in each: Renkert in the 100 backstroke in 1:08.96; Carter in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:15.78; and the 400 relay of Riebe, DiMartino, Mahoney, and Renkert in 4:17.02.

The Nighthawks will compete in the South-West Conference championships late in October, culminating with the swimming events at Masuk High on Saturday, October 28, beginning at 3 pm.

"We've had some good competition from other teams in the league and it will be really nice to get everyone together to see where we shake out," Osborne said.

Diving Coach Missy Carroll noted that the divers have had a strong season, with each competitor having personal best scores at one point or another this campaign. Freshman Lenie Urbina qualified for the SWC competition in her first meet.

"They've done really well. I'm very proud of them," Carroll said.