Newtown High School’s gymnastics team members still have a few weeks to sharpen their skills and prepare for the start of the regular season, and the Nighthawks come into the campaign with experience, as well as depth, on their side.

The Hawks will have to overcome the loss of just one graduate, but it was a standout team member in all-around competitor Anna Jannott, who is competing with the University of Connecticut’s club team. After participating with a roster of just nine a year ago, the Nighthawks enter into this winter with 13 team members thanks to the addition of five freshmen.

Seniors, led by captain Cameron Vazquez, also include Laura Hornby and Alana O’Donnell. Juniors are Alex Ferris, Sarah MacMullen, and Samantha Olah; sophomores are Maddie Jannott and Elizabeth Marcinek; and freshmen are Amanda Brinkmann, Olivia Brosnan, Allyson Kenny, Taylor Krikorian, and Isabella Manfredi.

Newtown Coach Keristen Raccio has a pair of returning all-around competitors — Maddie Jannott and Vazquez — with high hopes that Kenny will be a strong competitor in all four events (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor), as well.

“We have some very strong tumblers this year and I am excited to see what the girls will be able to do on the rest of the events,” the coach said.

Newtown’s goals are to have an injury-free season and be a strong competitor in the state championships. Last winter, the Hawks qualified for the Class L state championships despite an already small roster being challenged by the injury bug.

“Last year we had a bit of a rough start with a few injuries, but we pulled through making it to states,” Raccio said.

The gymnasts begin competition on January 9 in Southbury, for the Pomperaug Invitational. Following six meets, the South-West Conference championships will take place at New Milford High on February 11. Pomperaug and New Milford are two of the toughest teams in the conference. There are two more meets after the conference championships, as the girls gear up for state competition.

The Nighthawks are scheduled to have two home meets, at their Kinetic Kids facility in Oxford, as they take on Pomperaug, Nonnewaug, and Oxford on February 5, and Oxford on February 19.