MONROE — The Newtown High School boys’ swimming and diving team began the season with a 92-82 loss at Masuk High on December 19. Within the defeat were some individual and relay race wins.

Trenton Story won the diving competition with a score of 135.60. Finn Clancy was first in the 100 yard freestyle race in 55.14 and Warren Ache was second in the event in 56.67.

The 200 free relay team comprising Johnny Barzetti, Ache, Duncan Kolb, and Alex Gadbut was first in 1:41.30, edging Masuk’s top relay by a mere five one-hundredths of a second.

Newtown took home several runner-up times. The 200 medley relay of Oliver Clancy, Finn Clancy, Barzetti, and Leo Van Straten was second in 1:51.89. Gadbut was second in the 200 free in 1:58.63. Van Straten was second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.20. Gadbut took second in the 500 in 5:27.43. Finn Clancy placed second in the 100 breaststroke race in 1:12.11, with Kolb just behind with a third-place time of 1:12.83. The 400 relay of Gadbut, Oliver Clancy, Van Straten, and Finn Clancy was runner-up in 3:52.41.

Barzetti was third in the 50 free in 25.19. Sam Irving took third in the 500 free clocking in at 6:21.93. Oliver Clancy placed third in the 100 backstroke race in 1:03.67. Kolb came in third in the 100 breaststroke race in 1:12.83. The 400 relay of Kyle Albrecht, Irving, Jack Pettit, and Connor Kelly came in third in 4:23.00.

Newtown Coach Ryan Eberts, whose lineup features many new faces, said this meet was a learning experience with Gadbut — one of many freshmen in the lineup — along with Barzetti and Finn Clancy each turning in some impressive swims.

“We have a young team,” Eberts said. “We’re looking for constant improvement from everyone.”

The Nighthawks will not get another test until a Tuesday, January 7, home meet with Bunnell-Stratford at 4 pm. The team will be working hard in practices around a little time off for the holidays. Eberts said the Hawks will have long, varied practice sessions featuring time in and out of the pool with some yoga mixed in.

“The season’s young and we feel like we have a lot of room to grow,” the coach said.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.