By Kim J. Harmon

When Newtown and Pomperaug met in the pool last Friday night it had been 10 days since the Nighthawks had last sensed the pleasant aroma of victory – and that being a 91-82 decision over Stratford back on October 10.

But the Panthers were not about to have the Nighthawks break the drought against them and saddled their hosts with a rather convincing 110-76 loss.

Newtown dropped to 3-8 on the season, with just a home meet against Jonathan Law (Thursday, after press time) remaining on the regular season schedule. With the strong possibility of a win there, the 4-8 ‘Hawks would then start getting prepared for the South-West Conference championship meet slated for Saturday, November 4, at Foran.

In the loss to Pomperaug, the ‘Hawks boasted three individual winners – Kerin Sovern, Melissa Rushefski and Ashley Molden – but it wasn’t quite enough to hold off the Panthers, who swept one event and went 1-2 in three others.

Sovern took first in the 200 individual medley with a 2:36.24 time. Rushefski came in first in the 500 freestyle with a mark of 5:57.40 (and as a highlight for the ‘Hawks, Margaret Ashey took second with a 5:57.77 time). And Molden finished first in the 100 backstroke in 1:06.17, just .83 seconds ahead of her closest pursuer.

The ‘Hawks held an 8-6 lead after the 200 medley relay and were down only four points, 25-21, entering the 50 freestyle, but things quickly slipped away from then as the Panthers swept the 50 free and went 1-2 in diving.

The Nighthawks’ wins this season have come against Foran, Weston and Stratford.

Results:

POMPERAUG     110

NEWTOWN          76

 

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown (Molden, Sovern, Ashey, Matz) 2:06.05, 2. Pomperaug 2:10.67, 3. Pomperaug 2:45.40.

200 freestyle – 1. LeRoy (P) 2:10.04, 2. Burke (P) 2:12.06, 3. Melissa Rushefski (N) 2:12.09, 4. Margaret Ashey (N) 2:17.76, 5. Weltt (P) 2:26.04.

200 individual medley – 1. Kerin Sovern (N) 2:36.24, 2. Fuller (P) 2:41.06, 3. Jaramillo (P) 2:48.46, 4. Jamie Minalgo (N) 2:50.15, 5. Konroy (P) 2:54.00.

50 freestyle – 1. Sabre (P) 27.78, 2. St. John (P) 28.62, 3. Bedara (P) 29.56, 4. Jenn Marie Morlath (N) 30.07, 5. Chrissy Palmer (N) 33.45.

Diving – 1. Sidella (P) 241.5 points, 2. Adams (P) 156.15 points, 3. Tracey Samuels (N) 144.40 points, 4. Olmestead (P) 138.05, 5. Ally Leuzzi (N) 87.85 points.

100 butterfly – 1. Henry (P) 1:01.73, 2. Molden (N) 1:11.66, 3. Fuller (P) 1:21.50, 4. Liz Portnoy (N) 1:25.26, 5. Norris (P) 1:31.21.

100 freestyle – 1. Remillard (P) 1:00.01, 2. Jay (P) 1:01.18, 3. Katherine Matz (N) 1:01.18, 4. Heather Rebb (N) 1:07.44, 5. Davie (P) 1:07.49.

500 freestyle – 1. Melissa Rushefski (N) 5:57.40, 2. Margaret Ashey (N) 5:57.77, 3. Meehan (P) 7:07.40, 4. Lynn Cupero (N) 7:15.11, 5. Wilson (P) 7:27.98.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (Portnoy, Ashey, Rastelli, Matz) 1:54.73, 2. Pomperaug 2:00.07, 3. Newtown (Morlath, Rebb, Molden, Rushefski) 2:00.46.

100 backstroke – 1. Ashley Molden (N) 1:06.17, 2. Sheridan (P) 1:07.00, 3. Leroy (P) 1:09.39, 4. Widman (P) 1:13.27, 5. Jamie Minalgo (N) 1:19.90.

100 breaststroke – 1. Loock (P) 1:17.11, 2. Kerin Sovern (N) 1:17.29, 3. Moughty (P) 1:18.51, 4. Margaret Randall (N) 1:26.45, 5. Widman (P) 1:21.06.

400 freestyle relay – 1. Pomperaug 4:17.95, 2. Pomperaug 4:30.82, 3. Newtown (McCann, Palmer, Badillo, Singer) 5:15.82.