Newtown High School’s wrestling team essentially had a few weeks worth of wrestling competition jammed into a few days to end 2022. The Nighthawks traveled to Lowell, Mass. for the 55th Annual George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament, December 27 and 28 and, after an off day, hosted the Nighthawk Invitation Duals.

The Hawks placed 12th among 86 teams, and were the highest-scoring squad from Connecticut in the two-day event, which featured some of the best wrestlers from across New England. Newtown proceeded to win its tournament, defeating four schools with seven grapplers going unbeaten in the process.

"The more mat time they get the better," Coach Chris Bray said.

"It's nice for them to see some of the other teams in Connecticut as well," added Bray, whose team improved to 6-0.

Both of these tournaments will help the Hawks improve as they work toward the ultimate goal of capturing a South-West Conference team championship and having as many individual place winners as possible in both SWC and state championships.

In the Lowell tourney, Fisher Stites (170 pound weight division) placed third, Luca Manfredi (152) was fourth, and Marc Maurath (145) and Kenna Gioffre (113) both came in seventh.

The Nighthawk Invitation Duals included eight teams. Newtown defeated Joel Barlow of Redding 66-10, East Haven 66-18, and Branford 57-22 in pool match action before beating Norwalk 57-21 in the tourney crossover championship clash. Norwalk was ranked ninth in the preseason poll of teams across New England.

Hawks who went unbeaten in the event were Tommy Milligan, Kenna Gioffre, Marc Maurath, Luca Manfredi, Stanley Chenet, Fisher Stites, and Jon DaSilva.

Against Norwalk, the Nighthawks erased an early 12-3 deficit with four straight pins to take a 27-12 lead. Newtown had eight pins in the title match.

Nighthawk Invitational match results:

Newtown 66, Joel Barlow (JB) 10 — 106: Tommy Milligan (N) pin Sophie Brault (JB) in first period; 113: Kenna Gioffre (N) pin Jacob Hamlin (JB) in first period; 120: Daniel Kellerman (N) Forfeit; 126: Spencer Jorgenson (N) pin Ryan Knob (JB) in first period; 132: Stryder Hanson (JB) major decision Franco Cacho (N) 11-0; 138: Henry Terifay (N) Forfeit; 145: Marc Maurath (N) decision Scott Romano (JB) 7-4; 152: Luca Manfredi (N) pin Anthony Azzara (JB) in first period; 160: Stanley Chenet (N) decision Logan Bacas (JB) 12-10; 170: Fisher Stites (N) pin Jacob Erdo (JB) in first period; 182: Acea Shaham (N) pin Dylan Cooke (JB) in second period; 195: Thomas Morgan (N) pinned Sebastian Carvajal (JB) in third period; 220: Charles Dunn (N) Forfeit; 285: John DaSilva (N) Forfeit.

Newtown 66, East Haven (EH) 18 — 113: Tommy Milligan (N) pin Alyson Alberino (EH) in first period; 120: Kenna Gioffre (N) pin Jack Batista-Fletcher (EH) in second period; 126: Chris Doheny (EH) pin Daniel Kellerman (N) in first period; 132: Elijah Trufan (EH) pin Franco Cacho (N) in second period; 138: Henry Terifay (N) pin Tin Trinh (EH) in first period; 145: Marc Maurath (N) Forfeit; 152: Luca Manfredi (N) pin Noah Franchi (EH) in second period; 160: Stanley Chenet (N) pin Alex Dombrowski (EH) in second period; 170: Fisher Stites (N) pin Jacob Ushchak (EH) in first period; 182: Acea Shaham (N) pin Nick Vance (EH) in first period; 195: Jason Toth (EH) pin Thomas Morgan (N) in first period; 220: Charles Dunn (N) pin Christian Carabantes (EH) in first period; 285: John DaSilva (N) Forfeit; 106: Jacob Wallenta (N) pin Sofia Milano (EH) in first period.

Newtown 57, Branford (B) 22 — 120: Kenna Gioffre (N) pin Alec Dendas (B) in second period; 126: Jake Elpi (B) pin Spencer Jorgenson (N) in second period; 132: Carter Burgess (B) major decision Franco Cacho (N) 10-0; 138: Henry Terifay (N) pin Jordan Contreras (B) in first period; 145: Marc Maurath (N) pin Dominick Zdunek (B) in first period; 152: Luca Manfredi (N) pin Trent Tracy (B) in first period; 160: Stanley Chenet (N) pin Dominic Maturo (B) in first period; 170: Fisher Stites (N) pin Greg Kealey (B) in first period; 182: Cole Snider (B) pin Acea Shaham (N) in first period; 195: Thomas Morgan (N) pin Maxfield Parsell (B) in second period; 220: Drew Schwartz (B) pin Charles Dunn (N) in second period; 285: John DaSilva (N) decision Billy DellaCamera (B) 7-0; 106: Jacob Wallenta (N) pin Giovanni Casanova (B) in first period; 113: Tommy Milligan (N) pin Ava Gamberdella (B) in first period.

Newtown 57, Norwalk (NOR) 21 — 126: Phoenix Gardella (NOR) pin Spencer Jorgenson (N) in first period; 132: Franco Cacho (N) decision Rylee Donohue (NOR) 4-2; 138: Nick Fatone (NOR) pin Henry Terifay (N) in second period; 145: Marc Maurath (N) pin Markos Papakasmas (NOR) in second period; 152: Luca Manfredi (N) pin Jelani Hampton (NOR) in second period; 160: Stanley Chenet (N) pin Juan Bustamante (NOR) in first period; 170: Fisher Stites (N) pin Alex Peralta (NOR) in first period; 182: Ryan Gilchrist (NOR) decision Acea Shaham (N) 3-0; 195: Brendan Gilchrist (NOR) pin Thomas Morgan (N) in first period; 220: Charles Dunn (N) pin Joseph Bell (NOR) in first period; 285: John Dasilva (N) pin Gabriel Rodriguez (NOR) in first period; 106: Tommy Milligan (N) pin Kostaki Papakosmas (NOR) in first period; 113: Jacob Wallenta (N) Forfeit; 120: Kenna Gioffre (N) pin Ryan Laing (NOR) in second period.

The Hawks, following a visit to Bethel on Wednesday (check the January 13 print edition of The Bee for coverage), will go to New Milford on January 11 at 6 pm. They will participate in the Greater Hartford Open on January 14 starting at 9 am. The next home match is January 18 when Stratford visits at 7 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.