Newtown High School's wrestling team defeated host Bunnell of Stratford 69-12 on January 18 and toppled visiting Joel Barlow of Redding/Immaculate of Danbury 55-24 on January 25. In between the dual meets, the Nighthawks participated in the Eagle Classic, in Manchester, on January 21, and had a trio of weight division champions as 145 pound weight division competitor Ed Lovely, Joe Accousti (170), and Tom Long (220).Results from the Bunnell competition are as follows:Results from the Barlow/Immaculate match are as follows:

The Nighthawks have battled their share of injuries thus far.

"We're starting to get a little healthy now," Newtown Coach Chris Bray said following the win over Joel Barlow/Immaculate, adding that he is hopeful to be at full strength by the end of the first week in February.

In addition to having grapplers in and out of the lineup, standout Anthony Falbo, the 182-pound weight division representative, has spent just 23 seconds on the mat during competition thus far. Falbo won his only match, pinning his New Milford opponent early on, as he recovers from an injury.

Bray said the Nighthawks are being cautious with Falbo with plans to have the defending South-West Conference, Class LL, State Open, and New England champion in the fold for the postseason.

"We need him for tournaments," said Bray, whose Hawks are striving to reclaim the SWC championship, taken from them by perennial powerhouse New Milford, a year ago.

Junior Doug Carriero has filled in and helped the Hawks in the 182 division. Newcomers/lesser-experienced varsity wrestlers have been key contributors. Sophomores Nik Accousti, in the 113 and 120 pound weight divisions, Justin Bogdanoff at 126, and Joe Zeller at 285, along with freshmen Evan Rooney at 106, Fritz Maurath at 113, and Aidan Occhipinti at 120 all stepping up to help the Nighthawks.

"I'm seeing improvements. I'm seeing better takedown work but we had a couple letdowns tonight," Bray said after the Barlow/Immaculate match.

Bray wants to see the younger team members continue to improve and for the veterans to compete at their best as the season unfolds.

The Nighthawks will participate in the 16-team Ridgefield Challenge on Saturday, January 28. This will give the Hawks a look at some strong, unfamiliar competition from out of state, with New York teams set to participate.

"We're always trying to get guys like Joe Accousti a challenge," said Bray, noting that his 170-pounder is unbeaten, and very familiar with what stands in the way in his weight class throughout the state.

Joe Accousti won the Class LL title and was runner-up in the State Open last winter, a season after capturing the Open championship. Tough competition in weekend tourneys is important for Newtown's other top grapplers who won or have been in contention for state bragging rights last winter. Lovely with just one loss thus far this season, is a three-time Class LL runner-up, Tom Long won a Class LL championship a year ago, and Alex Stavola (152) was third in Class LL.

Juniors and seniors who are also looking to help the Hawks contend for postseason titles as a team are Aaron Occhipinti (132), Owen Walsh (138), and David Berquist (195).

The lengthy weekend tournaments, of which the Hawks will have had seven since mid-December by season's end, benefit all of the Hawks not only because of the high level of competition, but given the structure as they hit the mats a handful of times in a grueling day similar to what postseason brings.

Newtown, after visiting Stratford for a dual meet on Wednesday, February 1, at 6 pm, will travel to Vermont for the February 4 Mount Anthony Duals to see some of the best wrestlers in New England, then wrap up the regular slate when Bethel visits on Wednesday, February 8, beginning at 7 pm.

106: Rooney wins via forfeit.

113: Maurath wins via forfeit

120: Nik Accousti pin Xavier Rojas 3:07.

126: Bogdanoff pin Frankie Mahar 1:06.

132: Aaron Occhipinti pin Julian DeMatteo 1:39.

138: Walsh pin Sean Abner 3:26.

145: Lovely pin Michael Pastor 0:13.

152: Stavola pin Giancarlo Barbalinardo 1:27.

160 Jack Barnhart Sullivan (Bunnell) wins via forfeit.

170: Joe Accousti pin Sean Romero 4:00.

182: Carreiro wins via forfeit.

195: Jason Milfort (Bunnell) pin Berquist 1:13.

220: Long pin Danny Nguyen 2:18.

285: Zeller decision Charles Newtwon 7-0.

106: Rooney wins via forfeit.

113: Nik Accousti pin Cameron Hirsch 2:20.

120: Aidan Occhpinti pin Thomas Licamele 0:52.

126: Bogdanoff pinned by John Guimares (JB/I) 3:01.

132: Aaron Occhipinti tech fall Alex Klein Wassink 17-1.

138: Walsh decision Gabriel Ortiz 9-4.

145 Lovely tech fall Carson LiCastri 19-2.

152 Stavola wins via forfeit.

160 Ben Coppock (JB/I) wins via forfeit.

170 Joe Accousti wins via forfeit.

182 Carriero pinned by Nick Garoffolo (JB/I) 2:00.

195 Berquist pinned by Ben El-Wardany (JB/I)  3:10.

220: Long pin Shayne Ortiz 1:03.

285 Zeller pin Ben Bai 3:40.