Swim Squad Tops Bunnell

Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team defeated visiting Bunnell of Stratford 96-79 on Tuesday to improve to 7-3 heading into the regular season finale, Friday, October 19, when Masuk of Monroe visits for a 7 pm competition.

The Nighthawks had nine first-place finishes in the win over Bunnell. The 200 yard medley relay team of Kelley Baylis, Annika Fagerholm, Megan McDonald, and Charlotte Gray won in a time of 2:07.09. Amy Martinelli won the 200 freestyle race in 2:06.45, Zoe Eggleston captured the 200 individual medley in 2:28.18, and Eliza Eggleston won the 100 butterfly in 1:10.16.

The 200 free relay group of Zoe Eggleston, Baylis, Amanda Mele, and Eliza Eggleston, won in 1:50.58. McDonald captured first in the 100 backstroke, making her final touch in 1:06.19, and Fagerholm took first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:17.02. The 400 free relay team of the Eggleston sisters, Mele, and Martinelli, won in 4:06.20. NHS also had a one-two-three finish in diving, led by Natalie Poeltl, Noelle Benson, and Gillian Eckwall.

Newtown’s win was a bounce-back effort following a 100-86 loss to unbeaten Lauralton Hall in Milford on October 12. Against Lauralton, Martinelli won the 50 free with a time of 26.34 and also claimed first in the 100 in 57.53. Fagerholm was first in the 500 free with a time of 5:42.03. The 200 relay team of the Egglestons, Mele, and Martinelli, won with a time of 1:46.32. Benson won diving with a score of 195.40.

Newtown Coach Zach Gauvin said Lauralton looks like the team to beat, but expects the South-West Conference Championships to be close, and for his team to be in contention for the title once again. Last year, NHS was edged out by Pomperaug of Southbury in the final event. Newtown may have three losses, but the setbacks to Brookfield and Weston were both by a mere four points, and came down to the final event, the 400 free relay. The SWC championships get underway with the diving portion of the finals on October 30 at New Fairfield High, followed by the swim events November 3 at Masuk.              —AH