Newtown High School’s girls’ and boys’ outdoor track and field teams are set to begin the campaign. The girls, coming off an indoor winter South-West Conference Championship, are looking to do big things, and the boys will look to be competitive in a variety of events throughout meets this spring.

Coach Nick Fraticelli will help lead the way with assistance from four individuals. Becky Osborne is back for another stint coaching and will work with the girls’ and boys’ throwers. Becky Knapp, who since late fall has been coaching at Western Connecticut State University, continues to work with the teams as an assistant coach in multiple capacities. Mark Silverman will be on staff working with the boys’ sprinters and Joe Smith will work with the pole vaulters.

Captains for girls are Abigail Manka, Grace Lyons, Aashni Shetty, Jessica Chevalier, Jessie Moore, Annabelle Foley, Lola Kessler, and Rachael Albrecht.

The boys’ squad captains are Elias Brady, Derek Jopp, Justyn Gonzalez, Owen Sullivan, Guilherme Magalhaes, Grady Marks, and Soheib Dissa.

The girls will be led by Shetty in the hurdles as well as horizontal jumps. Violet Assante-LaBash has also emerged as an excellent horizontal jumper. Lyons has been a force in the sprints for many years and is looking forward to a strong senior campaign, Fraticelli said.

Natalie Delcampo, Clare Csaszar, Foley, and Albrecht as well as Leah Morris and her sister Ana Morris, among several other key contributors will add depth to the middle distance and distance group. Summer Chaljub will contribute in the sprints along with Manka and Moore. Kessler is a standout in the pole vault as well as sprints and jumps. The throwers will be led by Chevalier, Jamie Humphreys, and Faith Weir. Mackenzie Penrod will add depth in the javelin and has tremendous capabilities, Fraticelli said. Marcella Corral will also contribute significantly in the hurdles and high jump. All State cheerleader Isabella Walder adds depth and skill in the high jump and hurdles and will also be a significant contributor.

“The girls’ team has always been characterized by their tremendous depth as well as positive team culture. There are 18 events in track and field and the girls have been willing to try new events especially in the technical areas such as pole vault, high jump, hurdles, etcetera,” Fraticelli said. “The girls have been a very strong team at the conference as well as the state class level. We feel we have the pieces in place as well as the positive team culture to continue that momentum into the spring season.”

The boys’ team should be well balanced and able to score points across all of the events, Fraticelli said. “We have good leadership from our seniors, captains as well as upperclassmen,” he added.

“The boys were runners-up at the SWC championships last season and look forward to competing at a high level and continuing to challenge the best teams in the conference as well as the state.

Sullivan is the indoor SWC champion in the high jump, Brady won the long jump during indoor track and field, and Dissa won the 1000 at the State Open as well as the Class L State Championship. Bryce Maddox was a tremendous force in the jumps and sprints during indoor and he looks to add the javelin to his skill set during the outdoor season. Orion Lowery and Ubay Dissa have been working tremendously hard and look to make a big leap forward for outdoor track and field, Fraticelli said. The throws will be held down by Magalhaes as well as a combination of new athletes. Jopp will continue to lead in the hurdles events. Other key team members include Danniel Teixeira in the sprints, Jayden Taylor in the sprints and hurdles, and Gonzalez in sprints, jumps and the javelin. “Maddox is also a multifaceted athlete who will contribute immensely in the sprints, jumps and javelin,” Fraticelli added.

The first girls’ meet will be against perennial conference contenders Joel Barlow of Redding and Weston, at Barlow on Tuesday, April 8 at 4 pm. “That will tell a lot about how we stack up against the best teams in the SWC,” Fraticelli said.

For the boys, meets to circle on the calendar are April 22 at home against perennial contender Bethel as well as Immaculate of Danbury, and Senior Day, Tuesday, May 6 against New Fairfield and Notre Dame Prep — both at 4 pm.

“In general we are focusing on improving each day and building momentum each week. As far as where that takes us we are unsure. But, as long as we continue to focus on building a positive culture where each team member is contributing and is committed to working hard that is all we can ask of them each day,” Fraticelli said. “I am very excited to see each athlete grow in the sport, make connections with their teammates, test their limitations, and see success for themselves as well as the team as a whole.”

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