Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team celebrated Senior Night with a 90-86 victory over visiting Immaculate of Danbury/Bethel on October 15. A trio of first-place finishes to start the meet staked the Hawks to an early lead, the they went on to exhibition the final two events after locking up the team triumph. Because it was Senior Night, several Nighthawks had a chance to compete in events they typically don’t swim, and a group of divers even comprised a relay squad. At the end of the meet, members of the Newtown coaching staff jumped into the pool, fully dressed.

“It’s always a fun time,” Newtown Coach Zach Gauvin said of Senior Night.

The 200 yard medley relay team of Bridget Duero, Maddie Carter, Casey Klein, and Meg Olszewski was first in a time of 2:04.85.

In the 200 freestyle race, Mary Hufziger took the top spot, making her final touch in a time of 2:05.42. Kristina Goeree was third in the 200, with a time of 2:18.15, narrowly edging out teammate Cecilia Schoeni (2:18.78).

Emma Brantl won the 200 individual medley race in a time of 2:29.86; Emma Riebe was third in 2:40.10; and Amanda Walsh placed fifth in 3:12.13.

Gianna Terracino had Newtown’s best time in the 50 freestyle event, placing second in 27.99; Amanda Trampasch came in third in 30.90; and Callie Kraushaar was fourth in 31.83.

Newtown’s divers were led by Kari Djonne, who was three points off her pool record, scoring a 276.7. Gillian Eckwall scored a 213.95, and Sarah MacMullan had a 155.3.

In the 100 yard butterfly race, Casey Klein placed second in a time of 1:06.82; Amanda Berry was third in 1:13.50; and Alex Ferris placed sixth in 1:20.69.

Bridget Duero was runner-up in the 100 freestyle, coming in with a time of 59.23; Olszewski followed in third with a time of 1:02.00; and Trampasch came in fourth in 1:07.53.

Schoeni was second in the 500 free, with a time of 6:04.73; Goeree placed fourth in 6:14.98; and Walsh was fifth in 7:56.56.

The 200 free relay team of Olszewski, Duero, Klein, and Brantl had Newtown’s fastest time, finishing in 1:50.62. The next fastest Newtown relay group comprised divers Gillian Eckwall, MacMullan, Kiera Sughrue, and Djonne, which had a time of 2:21.38.

“I used to do Torpedoes when I was growing up,” Eckwall said of Newtown’s youth swimming program. “So it was nice to get back into the pool in that aspect. It was fun to swim against my teammates.”

Newtown’s relay contingent of Rose Wheway, Kelly Garcia, Katherine Donnelly, and Hailey Pankow finished in 2:25.48.

Hufziger was second in the 100 yard backstroke event, with a time of 1:12.68; Emma Johnson came in fourth in 1:27.78; and Kraushaar was fifth in 1:21.08.

In the 100 breaststroke event, which was exhibitioned, Brantl had Newtown’s best time, finishing in 1:16.99; Carter was next in 1:17.30; and Riebe finished in 1:24.18.

Duero, Terracino, Klein, and Hufziger led the way in the 400 free relay, combining for a time of 4:03.79. The team of Goeree, Anastzia Luci-Bernard, Keeley Bauman, and Berry had a time of 4:26.65. Elise Johnson, Melissa Nowak, Laurie Qiao, and Abby Gregory finished in 4:34.31.