First- and third-place finishes in each of the first two relay race events set up Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming team for a win over visiting Brookfield on February 10. The Nighthawks scored big points in the 200 yard medley and 200 freestyle relays, and then a first-place outcome in the 400 free relay to end the meet sealed the 93-83 team win.

“Those relay swims are huge,” said Newtown Coach Adam Fielding, noting that a greater separation in points can be earned in relays than in individual events in a given meet.

Only the top three relay outcomes count toward the team score, whereas top five individual race finishers impact the team score. Thusly, having two of the top three relay race finishers is guaranteed to provide a bigger event point differential than having two of the top three finishers in individual races, where teams can close the point gap with fourth- and fifth-place event finishes.

Newtown also had plenty of those meaningful individual event outcomes to pick up points throughout the meet — a testament to the hard work of the swimmers who may not win or come in second in a particular event but, in this case, outraced enough of their Brookfield counterparts to rack up crucial team points. Fielding put those competitors in more races during previous meets in which the Nighthawks had more depth than opponents in an effort to prepare them for always-challenging Brookfield.

“Having those races paid dividends,” Fielding said.

That was a pre-meet chess move of sorts to prepare for the matchup, and Fielding added that the clash with Brookfield is “a fun chess match.” Fielding said the potential was there to switch around his lineup during the race but that he made his moves the night before, formulating a lineup that featured stacked relay contingents since the coach felt that was an area of strength Newtown had over Brookfield.

The meet started out in Newtown’s favor with the 200 yard medley relay team of Peter Horan, Grant Carson, Kris Luci-Bernard, and Deagan Granville winning in a time of 1:50.70. The relay team of Brody Goudy, Colin Granville, Andrew Arena, and Hayden Bobowick took third in 1:59.02 and Newtown outscored the Bobcats 10-4 heading into the next event.

In the 200 freestyle race, Matt Irving was second in 1:56.27, James Guerrieri was fourth in 2:05.21, and Luci-Bernard came in fifth in 2:06.54. Brookfield outscored the Hawks just 9-7 in this event despite taking first and third.

Connor Kwarcinski was runner-up in the 200 individual medley race with a time of 2:18.34. A first, third, and fourth in the IM pushed Brookfield ahead in team scoring at 24-22 overall.

Newtown had three of the top four racers in the 50 free to pull back in front, 33-29. Peter Horan was first in 22.41 seconds, Max Luci-Bernard came in third in 23.46, and Bobowick was fourth in 26.94.

Newtown does not have any divers so the Bobcats picked up six points with the lone diving competitor, making the score 35-33 Brookfield.

The Nighthawks went back ahead in the 100 yard butterfly race. Max Luci-Bernard won the race in 1:00.38, Carson was third in 1:03.93, and Kris Luci-Bernard came in fifth in 1:05.12. Newtown led 43-41.

In the 100 freestyle event, Kwarcinski was second in 52.54, Irving came in third in 53.12, and Bobowick was fifth in 1:01.58. Newtown held its two point edge at 51-49.

Brookfield won the 500 free, but NHS finished two, three, four to expand its lead a couple points to 60-56. Guerrieri was runner-up in a time of 5:53.24, Arena followed in 6:00.51, and Oliver Clancy made his final touch in 6:17.70.

Newtown pushed its lead to ten points in the 200 free relay, making the score 70-60. Kwarcinski, Kris Luci-Bernard, Irving, and Max Luci-Bernard was first in 1:34.94, edging out Brookfield’s top relay (1:35.25). Deagan Granville, John Barzetti, Bobowick, and Guerrieri was third with a collective time of 1:49.54.

Horan won the backstroke race in 56.01. The Hawks also finished fourth and fifth in the event and went up 79-67.

Carson had Newtown’s fastest time in the 100 breaststroke race, clocking in at 1:11.17 for third. Brookfield closed the gap to eight but it wasn’t close enough to make the final event too significant. The Bobcats needed Newtown to false start/disqualify for a chance to win.

The Hawks nailed down the team triumph with the 400 relay contingent of Kwarcinski, Irving, Max Luci-Bernard, and Guerrieri winning in 3:27.81.

Coming into the meet, the Bobcats and Hawks each had only one loss — common South-West Conference opponent Pomperaug of Southbury. Each of Newtown’s previous five victories were somewhat lopsided. Fielding liked being pushed by the Bobcats, like usual.

“It felt good. We always have good meets with them,” the coach said. “It’s fun. These meets are great. I wish all meets were like this.”

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