By Kim J. Harmon

Last Thursday, in the finale of the South-West Conference dual meet season, there was a daunting challenge facing the Nighthawks and that daunting challenge did not come from the opponent on the other side of the pool.

The challenge came from within.

About five minutes before the ‘Hawks were going to start their SWC battle with the Eagles of Jonathan Law, news came down that Newtown High School swimmer Greg Chion had lost his year-long battle with leukemia.

The ‘Hawks then had to challenge themselves and their emotions to get back on the deck.

“We went out there to win it for Greg,” said coach Carl Strait, the head coach of the girls’ swim team and assistant coach of the boys’ swim team.

The ‘Hawks still had the wherewithal to defeat the Eagles, 113-73. Ashley Molden (200 individual medley and 100 freestyle) and Katherine Matz (50 freestyle and 100 butterfly) were double winners. Melissa Rushefski (200 freestyle), Tracy Samuels (diving), Margaret Ashey (500 freestyle), and Chrissy Glander (100 backstroke) were all individual winners.

The results:

NEWTOWN        113

JONATHAN LAW   73

 

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown (Sovern, Molden, Matz, Kovatch) 2:22.58, 2. Jonathan Law 2:22.69, 3. Jonathan Law 2:25.11.

200 freestyle – 1. Melissa Rushefski (N) 2:12.59, 2. Jessica Kovatch (N) 2:44.28, 3. Jen Badillo (N) 2:44.65, 4. Selvoggi (L) 2:46.52, 5. Osanitsch (L) 2:52.46.

200 individual medley – 1. Ashley Molden (N) 2:35.09, 2. Kerin Sovern (N) 2:37.56, 3. Sherbow (L) 3:02.42, 4. Margaret Randall (N) 3:12.03, 5. Mezzoni (L) 3:17.95.

50 freestyle – 1. Katherine Matz (N) 28.61, 2. Scgweithelm (L) 32.59, 3. Caitlin Palmer (N) 32.69, 4. Jacobson (L) 34.07, 5. Murphy (L) 34.31.

Diving – 1. Tracey Samuels (N) 150.30 points, 2. Andreotta (L) 135 points, 3. Willox (L) 130.20 points, 4. Ali Leuzzi (N).

100 butterfly – 1. Katherine Matz (N) 1:12.88, 2. Welz (L) 1:22.49, 3. Bruno (L) 1:32.41, 4. Lynn Cupero (N) 1:33.55, 5. Kate McCann (N) 1:36.56.

100 freestyle – 1. Ulatowski (L) 1:01.53, 2. Ashley Molden (N) 1:03.60, 3. Jenn Marie Morlath (N) 1:09.10, 4. Campanaro (L) 1:09.58, 5. Becky Singer (N) 1:12.63.

500 freestyle – 1.  Margaret Ashey (N) 6:02.74, 2. Jamie Minalgo (N) 6:39.85, 3. Liz Portnoy (N) 6:47.59, 4. Murphy (L) 7:26.87, 5. Selvaggi (L) 7:42.82.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (Kovatch, Morlath, Singer, Matz) 2:10.08, 2. Newtown (Palmer, Hoolehan, Gibbons, Sovern) 2:14.66, 3. Jonathan Law 2:20.66.

100 backstroke – 1. Chrissy Glander (N) 1:23.01, 2. Sherbow (L) 1:19.76, 3. Welz (L) 1:20.28, 4. Stevens (L) 1:20.91, 5. Diana Bowen (N) 1:29.47.

100 breaststroke – 1. Ulatowski (L) 1:23.01, 2. Mezzoni (L) 1:25.54, 3. Santos (L) 1:29.59, 4. Margaret Randall (N) 1:26.96, 5. Kandice Cohen (N) 1:32.29.

400 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (Rushefski, Morlath, Rebb, Ashey) 4:28.07, 2. Jonathan Law 4:36.07, 3. Newtown (Johnston, Samuels, Murphy, Treddensek) 5:00.69.