The Newtown High School boys’ swimming and diving team defeated visiting Masuk of Monroe 96-78 on February 9. It was a closely-contested meet with the Nighthawks sealing the team win in the second-to-last event.

Newtown used its depth for second- and third-place finishes in the first two events to even the score with Masuk despite the Panthers winning both the 200 yard medley relay and 200 freestyle races. Then the firsts started to roll in for the Nighthawks, allowing the hosts to establish and slowly build on the team lead.

“The team really rose to the occasion. We had many personal bests and they worked very hard in the relays to secure points. It’s great to see the team gel and perform in meets that are more competitive,” said Coach Ryan Ebets, whose squad had recently run off a string of victories in which it clinched wins with four events remaining.

In the 200 medley relay, Oliver Clancy, Finn Clancy, Gabe Petertonjes, and Connor Kwarcinski took second in a time of 1:53.12. Elias Kolb, Duncan Kolb, Jeremiah Stone, and Warren Ache placed third in 2:00.21.

James Guerrieri was runner-up in the 200 free with a time of 2:02.49 and Kris Luci-Bernard placed third in 2:04.98. In the 200 individual medley race, Petertonjes earned first in 2:11.71 and Johnny Barzetti was third, clocking in at 2:24.17. Kwarcinski was first in the 50 free, sprinting to the finish in 22.98.

Trenton Story was the only diver to compete and, in just his second meet, scored 131.25 to give the Nighthawks a first-place result.

Petertonjes earned a share of the win in the 100 butterfly race as the Nighthawk swimmer and Masuk’s top event finisher both touched up in 56.51. Kwarcinski won the 100 free in 51.14. Luci-Bernard placed third in the 500, making his final touch in 5:36.11; Barzetti was third in 5:41.32.

Newtown went one-two in the 200 free relay. Guerrieri, Hayden Bobowick, Luci-Bernard, and Petertonjes combined to win in 1:41.54. Duncan Kolb, Finn Clancy, Brady Wennerholm, and Ache came in second in 1:44.88.

Guerrieri was third in the 100 backstroke event in a time of 1:04.93. NHS had the top three performers in the 100 breaststroke race to lock up the team triumph. Finn Clancy was first in 1:11.26, Duncan Kolb was next in 1:15.18, and Ache third in 1:16.44.

In the 400 free relay, Luci-Bernard, Bobowick, Guerrieri, and Kwarcinski had the second-fastest time with a 3:45.58. Connor Kelly, Jack Pettit, Kyle Albrecht, and Jason Wasilnak took third in 4:09.84.

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