By Kim J. Harmon

T

hings should be looking up for coach Rich Pesce and the Newtown High School boys’ cross country team.

Although coach Pesce had had high hopes last year, the size of his team – about 15 runners in all – played a pretty large role in seeing the Nighthawks finish sixth in the South-West Conference championship meet.

But the numbers are up in 2001 and the high hopes coach Pesce always has for the program (remember, at one time the school went almost seven years without losing a single meet) seem much more justified this time around.

With the core group back from last year and a couple of runners returning to the fold after a hiatus, the Nighthawks are boasting a squad of 25 runners who are looking to make a jump into the upper echelons of the SWC.

“We have a good core group,” said coach Pesce. “Although small, there is some experience there. We always want to aim the highest but I hope we could be in the top three, at least. I’d like to think we can look at that.”

The ‘Hawks will be led by the tri-captains Andrew Lysaght, Dave Rod and Dan Maxwell. Rod is a four-year runner while Lysaght is in his third and Maxwell is in his second. They will be bolstered by the return of Dan Phillips, back after a two-year lull.

“I thought a lot of (Phillips’) potential back then,” said coach Pesce, “and I’m real excited to have him back.”

Coach Pesce will also be looking towards seniors Nate Taylor and Dave Millar and juniors Chris Dinoto, Ryan Richardson and Chris Giacolone. Dinoto has the most experience from that group (Taylor, Millar, Richardson and Giacolone are all first-time runners), but has to return off an injury that limited his impact last year.

Sophomores Matt Miller and Tyler Hull also look good. Hull, in fact, arrived as a freshman on the team and had an immediate impact.

And speaking of freshman, coach Pesce likes the large turnout he had this fall – the largest turnout he has had in years. The two names that stick out, too, are Jay Schunter and Andrew Heller, both of whom have a long history in youth swimming.

“The younger group – their future is down the road,” said coach Pesce. “Hopefully, they will be able to fill in our core group of runners.”

Yes, sir, things are looking up.

Schedule

 

Sept. 12        at Masuk       4 pm

          New Fairfield

          Immaculate

Sept. 15        at Bethel Invite        9 am

Sept. 25        Foran  4 pm

          Pomperaug

          Brookfield

Oct. 2 Bethel 4 pm

          Joel Barlow

          New Milford

Oct. 6 at Wickham Invite     TBA

Oct. 9 at Stratford    4 pm

          Weston

          Jonathan Law

Oct. 15         at Lauralton Hall      4 pm

          Notre Dame

          Bunnell

The SWC championship meet will be held Friday, October 19, at Bethel.