By Kim J. Harmon

NEW MILFORD – When John Read managed to come back from a 5-0 deficit to capture an 8-5 win at 103 pounds, the Nighthawks might have been hoping that was an omen for what was to come against a tough South-West Conference opponent on Wednesday night.

But – as many omens do – this one did not pan out. Despite some good matches from Matt Sullivan, Dan Maley, Nick Feola, Adam Esarey, and Steve Selezan – all individual wins – the ‘Hawks found themselves on the short end of  a 41-24 loss when it was all over.

The loss dropped Newtown to 5-3 in the SWC.

After Selezan defeated Dave Cherniske, 7-0, at 152 pounds, and gave the locals a 24-16 lead, it seemed as if the ‘Hawks had run out of steam. Tyler Miles was beaten, 15-6, by Jim Rourke at 160 pounds (a superb job, though, for avoiding two near pins); Chris Symes was bested, 9-2, by Jim Janaitis at 171 pounds; and Angelo Bodetti was pinned at 189 pounds by Pat Fitzsimmons . . . even though, just moments earlier, Bodetti had nearly gotten the pin on Fitzsimmons.

A forfeit by Newtown at 215 pounds sealed the loss.

Things started out pretty well, though, for the ‘Hawks. Even though Read fell into a 5-0 hole at 103 pounds, he earned two points on a reversal to start the comeback. He did most of the damage, however, in the third period by getting a takedown and four back points to win the match, 8-5.

At 112 pounds, Matt Sullivan did a nice job of dominating Justin Cran. Sullivan led 7-3 after one period and 9-4 after two before putting the match away in the third period, 12-5. Although John Dietter was pinned by Paul Okarmo at 119 pounds (tying the match 6-6), Dan Maley got those six points back at 125 pounds with a pin of Ryan Fitzsimmons in 2:28. Then Nick Feola gave the ‘Hawks their biggest lead of the night, 18-6, after working over Jesse McEvoy at 130 pounds and earning the pin at 3:38.

Mike Daniels got locked into a tough duel at 135 pounds with JD Sauer. Sauer took a 2-0 lead after one period but Daniels got those two points back in the second. Daniels had position throughout the second period, but had trouble even budging Sauer and didn’t get close to getting him on his back. Sauer turned the tables in the third period and earned a pin with just five seconds left, trimming the Newtown lead to 18-12.

The Green Wave got as close at 18-16 after Rob Belville earned a major decision over Adam Prokop at 140 pounds, but the ‘Hawks managed to hold off the Wave as Adam Esarey had a nice win over Jimmy Leaden at 145 pounds.

But Selezan’s victory over Cherniske at 152 pounds was the ‘Hawks last gasp.

The ‘Hawks will be at the New Fairfield Duels on Saturday, February 5 (match starts at 9:30 am), and then will be home on Wednesday, February 9, for the regular season finale against_against Weston.

Then the Nighthawks can look forward to the South-West Conference tournament (Saturday, February 12), which will be held at Newtown High School.