Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team defeated the Joel Barlow of Redding-Bethel co-op 95-63 on Senior Night, February 25. Johnny Barzetti, Oliver Clancy, Lukas Durrwachter, and Andrew Faircloth were celebrated by the Nighthawks.

“It has been great to see these seniors grow and develop as swimmers and young men. All four are really good guys who not only were important leaders on the team, but good natured people. We have been lucky to have them and they will be missed,” Coach Ryan Eberts said.

In the pool the Nighthawks got contributions from a mix of returning and newcomer swimmers and divers to seal the team victory in the 200 freestyle relay event and the Hawks exhibitioned the final three races.

The meet began with Newtown’s 200 yard medley relay team of Elias Kolb, Duncan Kolb, Kyle Albrecht, and Finn Clancy, which earned first place in a time of 1:53.84. The relay contingent of Oliver Clancy, Luke Durrwachter, Barzetti, and Faircloth placed third in 2:02.98.

Alex Gadbut won the 200 freestyle race in 1:59.50 and Connor Kelly was third in 2:12.02. Leo Van Straten and Albrecht gave the Hawks a one-two result in the 200 individual medley race with times of 2:12.60 and 2:28.19. Barzetti was second in the 50 free in 25.00.

Warren Ache won the diving competition with a score of 171.60 and Trenton Story was second with a score of 139.70.

Newtown went one-two in the 100 butterfly race with Barzetti winning in 1:00.65 and Albrecht taking second in 1:02.10. Finn Clancy was first in the 100 free in 53.90; and Faircloth placed third in the event clocking in at 1:01.12. In the 500, Oliver Clancy was first in 5:28.99 and Sam Irving took second, making his final touch in 5:51.79.

NHS earned the top three spots in the 200 free relay. Gadbut, Albrecht, Ache, and Barzetti won the race in 1:38.93; Elias Kolb, Van Straten, Finn Clancy, and Oliver Clancy were next in 1:40.54; and Ryan Lombard, Bradley George, Durrwachter, and Faircloth took third in 1:57.56.

Gadbut was first in the 100 backstroke in 1:04.47; and Elias Kolb came in third in 1:13.86. In the 100 breaststroke, Van Straten was first in 1:08.40, followed by Elias Kolb in 1:10.76, and Irving in 1:16.72.

In the 400 free relay race Oliver Clancy, Kelly, Finn Clancy, and Gadbut were the fastest to the finish in a time of 3:50.68 and the team of Ache, Elias Kolb, Duncan Kolb, and Van Straten came in second in 3:51.94.

Newtown was coming off a 98-82 loss at Brookfield on February 21. Among the meet highlights for NHS, Oliver Clancy was first in the 100 backstroke race in 1:01.59 and there were numerous second-place finishes: 200 medley relay (Oliver Clancy, Duncan Kolb, Barzetti, Ache) 1:49.26, less than a second behind Brookfield’s winning time; 200 free Gadbut 1:56.92; 200 IM Van Straten 2:12.52; 100 fly Van Straten 59.11; 500 free Gadbut 5:27.63; 200 free relay (Ache, Van Straten, Barzetti, Gadbut) 1:40.25; 400 free relay (Finn Clancy, Oliver Clancy, Van Straten, Gadbut) 3:48.97.

The Nighthawks will compete in the South-West Conference Championships with the diving competition at Pomperaug High of Southbury Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30 pm and the swimming events at Masuk of Monroe Friday, March 7 at 5 pm.

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