Coming off a stellar season that culminated with South-West Conference, Class LL, and State Open titles — a hat-trick of championships of sorts — Newtown High School’s wrestling team is again looking to finish on top, and maybe even do more in 2015-16.

The graduation of six starting weight class grapplers, in addition having to fill a few voids left by underclassmen who didn’t return, doesn’t prevent Coach Chris Bray and company from striving to repeat in all three tournaments. As a matter of fact, coming off a runner-up finish in the New England championships, the Nighthawks are striving to work hard to contend for a New England title again.

Newtown went 12-2 in dual meets a year ago and the regular-season competitions, along with in-season tournaments, again will serve a tuneups for championship season. The usual suspects stand to be Newtown’s biggest threats. Conference rival New Milford could make winning another SWC crown a challenge. Fairfield Warde has grown from an L to LL team this year and, along with perennial state powerhouse and fellow FCIAC team Danbury, could stand between the Hawks and successful defense of a state class championship, and potentially another State Open crown. Newtown was voted No. 1 in the Norwich Bulletin’s Preseason Coaches Poll.

Captains are 195-pound weight division grappler Andy Hubina, 182 wrestler Anthony Falbo, and 145 wrestler Ed Lovely. Hubina is an SWC champion who was second in LL, and fourth in the open. Falbo was SWC, LL , and open champ, and a New England runner-up. Lovely was and SWC champ, second in LL, and fourth in the open.

Also returning are Joe Accousti (LL and open champ, third in New England) at 170, Thomas Long (fourth in LL, SWC champion) at 220, and Alex Stavola (second in LL, third in SWC) at 152. The addition of transfer student Aaron Occhipinti, who promises to have a great season at 126, Bray said, should help make up for some of Newtown’s loss to graduation.

The team’s strength is its core of seasoned veterans. “They’re battle-tested and come with another year of experience,” said Bray, noting that many of his team members wrestle year-round.

Although expectations are high, the Nighthawks will have to work for their success — and lesser-experienced grapplers will need to emerge quickly.

“We have some youth and relative inexperience at a couple of spots, and will need to get them up to speed,” Bray said.

A year ago, Newtown won most of its competitions handily. This winter, the gap may be tightened a bit, and the Hawks very well have to forfeit some weight classes and lose more meets than they did a year ago. Certainly, some of the matchups that were lopsided in favor of Newtown last winter may be a different story this year.

“Many of our dual meets will be closer as we bring our new members up to speed and try to fill all of the weight classes. Our core of veterans will need to carry the team, of which they’re perfectly capable,” the coach said.

The reason for the belief in this team continuing to perform well in postseason is that, because there are several opponents, squads can win with fewer team members excelling — as long as those select competitors get deep into competitions.

“Where this team will shine is in the tournament format — the bigger the event may even be better. Where we are strong we are very strong, especially with two returning open champions. We should have another very productive season.”

The campaign is slated to get underway with Pomperaug of Southbury visiting on Wednesday, December 16, beginning at 7 pm. The early part of the season includes tournaments throughout the holiday week, and the Hawks won’t have their next home meet until Stratford visits on January 6 for a 7 pm match.