Newtown High School's wrestling team is coming off a season in which it went 11-2 in dual meets, was runner-up to New Milford in the South-West Conference, third in state Class LL, and second in New England. Most teams would drool for that type of success on its resume. The returning Nighthawks, however, are hungry to build off of that success and win everything in February and March.

"Because we have so many seniors there is a real hunger, a sense of urgency to finish what they started. There's also a quiet confidence that comes with being battle-tested on the big stage. These guys have wrestled some big events and come home with hardware. Their heads are in the right place and they're eager to get to work. If we can stay healthy I think we'll have a great season," Newtown Coach Chris Bray said.

The Nighthawks lost two grapplers, Andy Hubina and Pete Mihok, to graduation, and bring back a wealth of talent and experience.

This year's captains are Ed Lovely (145-pound weight division), Alex Stavola (160), Joe Accousti (170), Anthony Falbo (182), and Tom Long (220).

Other key cogs in the lineup are Aaron Occhipinti, who was third in the Class LL championships last year, and his brother Aidan, a freshman newcomer, along with Nik Accousti.

Lovely is a three-time Class LL runner-up, and two-time fourth-place finisher in the State Open; Stavola was third in Class LL last winter; Accousti was first in Class LL, second in the State Open (after winning it all the year before), and third in New England; Long was first in LL and third in the open; and Falbo is a three-time LL and open champ, and three-time New England place-winner, capturing it all last year.

New Milford is Newtown's perennial foe in the SWC, and Danbury always has a tough team and stands to be Newtown's toughest competition in the Class LL championships.

Bray notes that the team's goals are to win the SWC, Class LL, and State Open, and take a good run at the New England title after a runner-up finish each of the last two years.

"This could be our year, hopefully. That's our expectation - that's our mindset," Long said. "Any loss for this senior year is going to be a disappointment."

That said, "it's not going to be easy," Long said.

One of the strengths of the team, in addition to all of this talent, is its depth. The Hawks field a full team and won't forfeit any weight classes.

"That's a big bonus for us," Bray says. "We have tons of experience this season, with many returning state placers."

"We're going to work off each other. We're going to push each other," Long said.

With expectations so high, one might think the Nighthawks would feel some pressure, but that does not seem to be the case.

"No pressure really. We can handle it. We're the team to beat this year," Accousti said matter-of-factly.

The season begins on Thursday, December 15, when New Fairfield visits for a 7 pm start. New Milford comes to town on Wednesday, January 11, also at 7 pm.