By Kim J. Harmon

STRATFORD – There are few things that will bring a smile to coach Brian Reiff’s face like a win over Bunnell would.

An animosity that has festered ever since the South-West Conference was formed has turned the Newtown and Bunnell swim programs into bitter rivals and a victory in the annual dual meet matchup is one prized above almost any other.

And the Nighthawks claimed that prize last week with a 102-76 win over the Bulldogs at Flood Junior High School in Stratford.

Kane Kunst was a double winner for the ‘Hawks, taking first in the 200 individual medley (2:08.74) and the 500 freestyle (5:21.17). Matt Fries and Tim Robinson were, oddly, the only other individual winners as Fries took first in the 100 backstroke (1:07.35) and Robinson took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.64).

The ‘Hawks did, though, get some nice performances from Brian Kotwicki, Jeff Heller, Garrett Swink and Caitlin Sullivan. Kotwicki was second in the 50 freestyle (26.36) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (58.38); Heller was second in the 200 freestyle (2:10.07) and third in the 100 butterfly (1:07.63); Swink was second in the 100 butterfly (1:07.53); and Sullivan was second in diving with 100.35 points.

Fries also had a nice finish in the 100 freestyle, coming in second in 56.48 seconds.

The win pushed Newtown’s record to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the SWC. While the SWC record stayed the same, the overall record dipped to 2-2, however, on Friday with a 100-82 loss to Sacred Heart of Waterbury and then to 2-3 on Tuesday with a 98-85 loss to local rival Brookfield.

Against Sacred Heart, Kunst was once again a double winner, taking first in the 200 individual medley (2:07.76) and 100 backstroke (57.57). Heller and Robinson were the only other individual winners, with Heller taking first in the 200 freestyle (2:08.86) and Robinson taking first in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.33).

Kotwicki continued to shine in the 50 and 100 freestyles and Fries turned in another strong performance in the 100 free, finishing second in a time of 55 seconds. Heller was strong in the 100 butterfly, as well, his 1:06.08 good for second place.

The best race of the night came in the 200 freestyle relay as the Nighthawks – who led through the first three legs – were touched out at the wall by .75 seconds in a strong finish by the Hearts. Fries was also edged by Ostrander of Sacred Heart in the 100 free by just .75 seconds.

Against Brookfield, a team that has improved dramatically in the last few years, Newtown went into the 100 backstroke only down by five points only to see the Bobcats pull away from the Nighthawks.

Newtown            102

Bunnell               76

 

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown (1:56.10), 2. Bunnell (1:59.57), 3. Newtown 2:07.10.

200 freestyle – 1. Carroll (B) 2:07.83, 2. Heller (N) 2:10.07, 3. Scharf (N) 2:16.69, 4. Swink (N) 2:21.82, 5. DePonte (B) 2:32.76.

200 individual medley – 1. Kunst (N) 2:08.74, 2. Heyer (B) 2:11.97, 3. Bass (N) 2:48.15, 4. Scharf (N) 2:48.34.

50 freestyle – 1. Romatzik (B) 25.00, 2. Kotwicki (N) 26.36, 3. Robinson (N) 27.74, 4. Modzelewski (N) 28.32, 5. Mancelli (B) 33.19.

Diving – 1. Stillner (B) 100.60 points, 2. Sullivan (N) 100.35 points, 3. Truitt (N) 93.50 points, 4. Mancarelli (B) 87.95 points.

100 butterfly – 1. Suarez (B) 1:07.51, 2. Swink (N) 1:07.53, 3. Heller (N) 1:07.63, 4. Peyton (N) 1:23.02, 5. Mancarelli (B) 1:58.00.

100 freestyle – 1. Heyer (B) 49.64, 2. Fries (N) 56.48, 3. Carroll (B) 57.75, 4. Kotwicki (N) 58.38, 5. Modzelewski (N) 1:02.30.

500 freestyle – 1. Kunst (N) 5:21.17, 2. Romatzik (B) 5:55.96, 3. Schark (N) 6:17.17, 4. Bass (N) 6:42.73.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Bunnell (1:39.85), 2. Newtown (1:40.47), 3. Newtown (1:58.28).

100 backstroke – 1. Fries (N) 1:07.35, 2. Carroll (B) 1:12.38, 3. L. Scharf (N) 1:12.86, 4. Ranlov (N) 1:35.70, 5. Strong (B) 1:39.61.

100 breaststroke – 1. Robinson (N) 1:16.84, 2. Peyton (N) 1:18.02, 3. Silva (B) 1:30.30, 4. Ross (B) 1:32.67, 5. Morlath (N) 1:44.45.

Newtown swam unofficially in the 400 freestyle relay.

 

Sacred Heart      100

Newtown              82

 

200 medley relay – 1. Sacred Heart (1:51.93), 2. Sacred Heart (2:01.46), 3. Newtown (2:01.78).

200 freestyle – 1. Heller (N) 2:08.86, 2. Moriarty (SH) 2:09.55, 3. Howe (SH) 2:14.05, 4. Longo (SH) 2:15.08, 5. Scharf (N) 2:17.06.

200 individual medley – 1. Kunst (N) 2:07.76, 2. Lenihan (SH) 2:28.41, 3. Garrity (SH) 2:31.99, 4. Boza (SH) 2:47.75, 5. L. Scharf (N) 2:47.59.

50 freestyle – 1. Bergin (SH) 25.39, 2. Kotwicki (N) 26.22, 3. Dellano (SH) 26.26, 4. Jones (SH) 26.33, 5. Robinson (N) 27.07.

Diving – 1. McGregor (SH) 149.27 points, 2. Harvey (SH) 147.26 points, 3. Ciozzo (SH) 129.40 points, 4. Truitt (N) 101.55 points, 5. Sullivan (N) 99.95 points.

100 butterfly – 1. Bachuretz (SH) 1:00.36, 2. Heller (N) 1:06.08, 3. Lenihan (SH) 1:07.95, 4. Swink (N) 1:09.37, 5. Modzelewski (N) 1:13.18.

100 freestyle – 1. Ostrander (SH) 54.25, 2. Fries (N) 55.00, 3. Kotwicki (N) 57.98, 4. Jones (SH) 59.66, 5. Sodino (SH) 1:02.90.

200 freestyle relay – 1. Sacred Heart (1:39.18), 2. Newtown (1:39.93), 3. Sacred Heart (1:49.25).

100 backstroke – 1. Kunst (N) 57.57, 2. Bozza (SH) 1:00.63, 3. Fries (N) 1:09.89, 4. Woods (SH) 1:10.16, 5. Scharf (N) 1:13.63.

100 breaststroke – 1. Robinson (N) 1:16.33.

Sacred Heart swam the 400 freestyle relay unofficially.