The competitive season officially starts for Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team on Thursday, December 19, with a visit to Weston at 4 pm. The restart is after the calendar turn to 2020 when Newtown has its next meet, Tuesday, January 7, against visiting Brookfield at 7 pm.

Coach Adam Fielding views all of December as a training month as his team members get back into swimming shape and is hoping the Nighthawks return to end of last year form by the time that Brookfield meet rolls around.

“They’re not going to like me very much the next two weeks,” Fielding said half-jokingly, noting that it will be a grind in practice as the swimmers build up their stamina and endurance. “They’re going to work.

“I’m looking forward to January and seeing how they’ll improve. It’s my job getting them ready when they need to be ready,” Fielding added.

That time is the postseason, beginning with the South-West Conference championships in early March.

“We want to go to SWCs and stick our nose in the middle of the pack,” said Fielding, who has a small squad of 18 competitors and will be challenged by standouts Pomperaug of Southbury (seven-time conference champion), Masuk of Monroe (runner-up last winter), and Brookfield, among others.

Swim season always has a start broken up by the holidays, but Newtown has — weather permitting — a consistent Tuesday meet schedule throughout January and February, something Fielding thinks can benefit the team in its training as the season wears on.

Newtown lost a pair of State Open point-getters in Colby Delia and Xavier Williams and will turn to the leadership of captains Rick Irving (200 freestyle and 100 free) and Mason Suba (butterfly and sprint free events).

Although it has a small roster, depth is on its side, Fielding said. Other key returnees are Jack Wojtowicz (butterfly and individual medley), Colden Bobowick (freestyle), and Matt Irving (backstroke). Diver Joe Moran is back to compete.

Fielding is aiming to finish with a winning regular-season meet record after a .500 outcome last year and qualify as many team members as possible for both SWCs and the state championship.