Led by Peter Horan’s team and pool record-setting 100 yard backstroke performance, Newtown High School’s boys’ swim team began the season with a 92-78 win over visiting Oxford, on December 21. Horan was first with a time of 52.26.

“That was the swim of the day for sure,” said Newtown Coach Adam Fielding, whose team had five other first-place results; Horan swam off with a pair of individual firsts and was part of two winning relays when all was said and done.

Fielding expects Horan to reset the backstroke standards as the season unfolds.

The Nighthawks got things started with a first-place effort in the 200 medley relay race as the team of Horan, Grant Carson, Gabe Petertonjes, and Max Luci-Bernard won.

Matt Irving was second in the 200 freestyle race, Petertonjes took second in the 200 individual medley, and Connor Kwarcinski was second in the 50 free.

Luci-Bernard won the 100 butterfly event, and Horan claimed first in the 100 free. James Guerrieri was runner-up in the 500.

The 200 free relay team of Max Luci-Bernard, Kristian Luci-Bernard, Irving, and Kwarcinski was first.

In addition to Horan winning the backstroke race, NHS got second behind the efforts of Petertonjes. Irving was second in the 100 breaststroke race.

Newtown’s 400 free relay contingent of Kwarcinski, Irving, Petertonjes, and Horan was first.

Fielding said he was particularly impressed with swims turned in by Horan, Kwarcinski, Petertonjes, and Luci-Bernard, especially in the 100 fly.

“My veterans looked very strong today,” said Fielding, adding that the lesser-experienced swimmers need to get up to speed to help the Hawks achieve their goal of finishing among the top three or four in the South-West Conference at the end of the campaign.

“Which I think is a very attainable goal. We just have to clean up our races and fill a couple holes,” Fielding said.

The coach added that the team’s biggest strengths are its versatility and depth, and that the Hawks will have to figure out where swimmers are best competing to maximize their skills while accommodating team needs.

“We have a long way to go,” Fielding said. “We have to teach technique, turns, finishing — making sure they’re racing,” said Fielding, adding that racing an opponent in the next lane is much different than practicing.

That said, the coach likes the early signs.

“We’re trending in the right direction,” Fielding said.

Newtown is off from competition until a Tuesday, January 4, home meet with New Fairfield at 4 pm, the team’s first against South-West Conference competition.

“This meet was a great way to shake out the cobwebs and get a feel for what we have,” said Fielding, adding that his squad will be practicing hard over the holiday break to prepare for the rest of the slate.

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