By Kim J. Harmon

It has come down to be a simple matter of lousy timing.

There are few people – if any – who can clearly remember the last time that Newtown defeated Pomperaug in swimming. The last time may have been all the way back in 1976 when the ‘Hawks (then known as the Indians) finished the season 16-0.

Last year, the ‘Hawks had perhaps their best team since that one in 1976 and still couldn’t beat Pomperaug because the Panthers remained as strong as ever.

This year, the Panthers limped into Newtown with a team still recovering from the lost of 15 swimmers and there was little the ‘Hawks could do about it because they were suffering from the same affliction.

A matter of lousy timing.

The Panthers opened the SWC dual meet season with a 94-83 win over the Nighthawks and despite how unevenly matched it was, there were still some moments of solid excitement.

Senior co-captain Kane Kunst (a double winner on the afternoon) broke a 22-year-old record in the 100 butterfly when he raced to a first-place finish in :55.59, better than a half-second ahead of the 56.60 time set by Dave Hiteshew back in 1978.

And in the 200 freestyle relay, Newtown and Pomperaug tangled in what may end up being the closest race of the season – a race decided by just .03 seconds. In the relay, Pomperaug opened with a lead of more than a full body length after the first 50 yards. But Matt Fries and Tim Robinson kept the race close enough and allowed Jeff Heller and Kunst the opportunity to cut it even closer.

Kunst made up as much time as he could in the final leg, but was just touched out at the wall. Pomperaug took first at 1:41.95 while Newtown took second at 1:41.98.

The ‘Hawks did get a few other nice performances – such as from Heller (26.36 in the 50 free), Brian Kotwicki (26.91 in the 50 free and 59.88 in the 100 free) and diver Steven Truitt (92.1 points in his first official meet).

Still, the ‘Hawks fell to 0-1.

Pomperaug         94

Newtown            83

 

200 medley relay – 1. Pomperaug 1:53.00, 2. Newtown 1:53.55, 3. Pomperaug 1:56.52.

200 freestyle – 1. Skandrum (P) 1:59.43, 2. Zwolinski (P) 2:05.89, 3. Cinquegrano (P) 2:06.67, 4. Fries (N) 2:11.95, 5. Scharf (N) 2:16.62.

200 individual medley – 1. Kunst (N) 2:08.54, 2. Bower (P) 2:09.05, 3. Swan (P) 2:17.93, McGowan (P) 2:28.40, 5. Bass (N) 2:48.64.

50 freestyle – 1. Robinson (P) 25.08, 2. Zimmerman (P) 25.28, 3. Heller (N) 26.34, 4. Hanan (P) 26.51, 5. Kotwicki (N) 26.91.

Diving – 1. Schmidt (P) 153.85 points, 2. Pico (P) 94.95, 3. Truitt (N) 92.1, 4. Vancho (P) 76.11, 5. Hine (P) 74.75.

100 butterfly – 1. Kunst (N) 55.59 (NTR)*, 2. Sandrone (P) 1:04.20, 3. Zimmerman (P) 1:08.49, 4. Guisti (P) 1:13.22, 5. Modzelewski (N) 1:14.47.

100 freestyle – 1. Barrett (P) 55.14, 2. Robinson (P) 56.01, 3. Shea (P) 59.58, 4. Kotwicki (N) 59.88, 5. Robinson (N) 1:00.85.

500 freestyle – 1. Cincon (P) 5:38.97, 2. Zwolinski (P) 5:45.75, 3. Smith (P) 5:47.19, 4. Scharf (N) 6:24.55, 5. Swink (N) 6:33.80.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Pomperaug 1:41.95, 2. Newtown 1:41.98, Pomperaug 1:46.38.

NOTE: Pomperaug swam the last three events unofficially. Kane Kunst’s time of 55.59 in the 100 butterfly broke the 22-year-old school record set at 56.60 by Dave Hiteshew in 1978. The pool record in the event belongs to Ben Michaelson of Seymour, who swam a 54.47 in 1998.