Newtown High School Hockey, Basketball And Wrestling Update

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School hockey, boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, and wrestling squad were all in action during the holidays. Here are highlights from the ice, hardwood and wrestling mats:

On The Ice

The Newtown High hockey team lost its first game of the season in a 4-2 setback to Staples of Westport at Danbury Ice Arena on December 26. David Landau scored Newtown’s first goal and Sean Kennedy scored the second, assisted by Evan Isaacs. Landau’s goal came on a rush in the second period and trimmed the Stapes lead to 2-1. Kennedy’s tally was scored on a blast from the blue line late in the third to conclude the game’s scoring. Newtown dropped to 1-1 and Staples improved to 1-3.

Staples scored just ten seconds after the opening face-off and never relinquished the lead in this at-times physical and penalty-filled contest.

“The kids came in very flat today in the first period,” said NHS Coach Paul Esposito, adding that the Nighthawks’ game plan was to contain the puck deep in the Staples zone.

Newtown could not get on track for long enough stretches to sustain pressure. The Hawks will try to get back into the win column Saturday against Watertown/Pomperaug.

From Behind The Arc

The Newtown High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both lost first round holiday tournament games on Monday. The boys, participating in the Staples tourney in Westport, nearly overcame a 14-point deficit to Ridgefield in the final minutes, but fell 55-49.

Early-game turnovers hurt the Hawks as they were dealt their first loss after three straight wins to begin the campaign.

Dan Lynch converted a steal into a lay-up to get Newtown within 50-43 with 1:24 left in the game. After Ridgefield missed a front end of a one-and-one foul shooting opportunity, Newtown’s Josh Engler sank his second 3-pointer to make it a four-point game with 1:15 to play but the Hawks never got any closer.

Lynch and Engler both had three 3-pointers and 15 points and Peter Manos drained a 3-pointer in the loss. Casey Tenney had 7 points and Andy Lapple added 6.

The girls, playing in the Bethel tourney, lost to Brookfield 45-42 despite 15 points from Abbey Doski and 12 from Riley Wurtz.

On The Mats

The wrestling team won two matches last week, defeating New Fairfield 56-22 on December 22 and toppling Oxford 57-13 on December 23, and doubled up Immaculate of Danbury 60-30 on December 29.

Results from the New Fairfield match are as follows:

103: Nick Crudo (Newtown) win by forfeit

112: Shan Kurcu (Newtown) forfeit

119: Rebecca Castegner (Newtown) forfeit

125: Lucis Ruger (New Fairfield) pin Jake Locorotando, 1:30

130: Ian McEvoy (Newtown) pin Paul Reynolds 1:38

135: Patrick Zingaro (Newtown) tech Justin Baumgarten, 16-0 in 3:50

140: Mikey Amozando (New Fairfield) pin Joe Pieretti, 3:50

145: Cory Fisher (Newtown) forfeit

152: Will Northrop (Newtown) forfeit

160: Jesse Bradarick (New Fairfield) major decision over Brian Kuruc, 10-1

171: Dan Milot (Newtown) pin Mike Hess 1:35

189: Ryan Tharus (New Fairfield) pin Dillion Kelly, :43

215: Aaron Nezvesky (Newtown) regular decision Mike Cupo, 10-6

285: Mac Morlock (Newtown) pin Joe Amorando, 1:47

Results from the Oxford match are as follows:

103: Crudo (Newtown) default Dylan Woodin

112: Leigh Garety (Newtown) forfeit

119: Castegner (Newtown) pin Stephanie Vitka, :58

125: Sam Weiner (Newtown) pin Chandler Curtin, 2:20

130: Paul Chaves (Oxford) pin McEvoy, 5:24

135: Zingaro (Newtown) pin Brandon Cellini, 3:35

140: Pieretti (Newtown) pin Aedan Kennedy, 2:30

145: Fisher (Newtown) pin Cory Sciongay, 1:55

152: Shan Mucheirno (Oxford) regular decision Northrop, 16-10

160: Kuruc (Newtown) pin Jarnin Muchenino, 5:30

171: Benjamin Blue (Oxford) major decision Milot, 13-4

189: Kelly (Newtown) pin Brian Spicer, 1:35

215: Nezvesky (Newtown) regular decision Joseph Carbonaro, 7-2

285: Morlock (Newtown) forfeit

Results from the Immaculate meet are as follows:

103: double forfeit

112: Crudo (Newtown) forfeit

119: Thomas Cronin (Immaculate) pin Castegner, 1:20

125: Sam Weiner (Immaculate) pin Anthony Cotay, 2:35

130: McEvoy (Newtown) forfeit

135: Denis Christie (Immaculate) pin Zingaro, 1:55

140: Gavin Buckly (Immaculate) pin Pieretti, 3:26

145: Fisher (Newtown) pin Chris Densenioth, :29

152: Northrop (Newtown) pin Justin Estebam, 4:08

160: Kuruc (Newtown) pin Brandon Gordono, 1:59

171: Milot (Newtown) forfeit

189: Carney (Newtown) forfeit

215: Nezvesky (Newtown) forfeit

285: Justin Walters (Immaculate) pin Morlock, 1:25