By Kim J. Harmon

Hanging tough – sometimes that is enough to provide some small consolation to a team that has just come out on the short end of the score. Hey, it worked for a couple of Newtown High School teams this past week.

 

[The wrestling team hung tough against defending South-West Conference champion Bethel and defending CIAC Class M champion Killingly at the Spartan Duels this past weekend in Meriden … narrowly losing both.

[The boys’ basketball team hung tough against perennial SWC powerhouse Kolbe-Cathedral last Friday, going up as much as three points in the second half before ultimately falling.

The girls’ basketball team hung tough against Kolbe Cathedral, too, last Friday while rallying back from a 14-point, second-half deficit to take a brief lead. But that situation is different considering the Lady Nighthawks had already beaten the Lady Cougars this year.

Here is the rest of what happened this past week:

Wow, what a week!

Give the Newtown High School wrestling team a chance to catch its breath – especially after rallying from a 13-point deficit in the final three weight classes to beat Weston-Barlow, defeating Maloney of Meriden, and then coming within one match of beating defending South-West Conference champion Bethel and defending Class M champion Killingly.

Yeah … what a week.

“I like where this team is heading,” said head coach Alan Potter, who saw the Nighthawks improve to 5-2 overall, 4-1 in the SWC.

In the win over Weston-Barlow, a forfeit at 103 pounds dropped the ‘Hawks into a 36-23 hole with just four weight classes left. Fortunately for the ‘Hawks, those four weight classes (112, 119, 125 and 130) are four of their strongest.

Down 13, Newtown needed not only to win all four, but had to get at least a major decision, technical fall or a pin to lift them to the win. If Weston-Barlow managed a pin in any one of the four classes, the ‘Hawks would have lost.

Dan McIlrath took charge at 112, though, and pinned Steve Cohn in just 31 seconds. Steve Giacolone tussled hard with Mike Mueller, but earned the pin in 3:28 to move the ‘Hawks to within one point of the lead. The Dan Kearns earned a 17-1 technical fall over Zach Moore at 125 and the ‘Hawks had slipped into the lead, 40-36.

All Jeff Bray had to do at 130 was not get pinned.

But that wasn’t even an issue.

Bray pinned Alex Toutoungi in just 49 seconds to secure the win for the ‘Hawks, 46-36.

“Coach (Steve) Ford and I knew it would be very close against Weston and we spoke with the team about how every match would be important,” said coach Potter. “The team rose to the challenge and got it done.”

Gary Andrews (145), Skye Perry (160) and Edmund Breitling (189) all earned pins while Alex Read (170) secured a 15-0 technical fall over Dave Witter.

The ‘Hawks took the momentum from that win into the Spartan Duels at Maloney High School in Meriden.

“The guys knew we were taking on some of the best wrestling teams in Connecticut,” said coach Potter. “They stepped it up, wrestling with super intensity and determination. We beat Maloney and came within one match of beating Bethel and Killingly. Sure, we would have liked to win both those matches, but our performance is improving and we can build on these experiences.”

The ‘Hawks had a chance against Bethel because the ‘Cats – while still boasting some top talent – were unable to fill some weight classes (103, 189 and 215). Kearns (3-0 at the Duels) won a thrilling 18-16 overtime win over Dan Benitez at 130, Bray pinned Dylon Wolf in 2:29 at 135, and James Terhaar pinned Mike Kapstein in a lightning fast 25 seconds at 140.

“We needed one more pin and we would have done it,” said coach Potter.

Against Maloney, McIlrath (112), Giacolone (119) and Kearns (125) all earned pins before Bray grabbed a 9-3 decision over Matt Triarico at 130. Then Maloney ran off a stretch of pins at 135, 140 and 152 to cut the Newtown lead down to just three points, but juniors Perry (160) and Read (171) both earned pins and Mike Cash secured a forfeit win at 189 to lift the ‘Hawks to the win.

Against Killingly, it came down to the final match. Down 18-0 after first three classes, the ‘Hawks rallied as Giacolone (119) and Kearns (125) both earned pins and Brian Duffy (130) secured a forfeit. Although Bray (135) lost a tough 6-5 battle, Terhaar (140) pinned John Pechie to put the ‘Hawks on top, 24-21.

But the Redmen grabbed pins at 145, 152 and 160 to turn the match around and take a 39-24 lead. The ‘Hawks, though, rallied again as Read (171) pinned Jared Brown in 1:17 and Breitling (189) earned a forfeit to close the gap to three point.

This was as close as the ‘Hawks would get. Brandon Thomas (215) was blanked, 8-0, in the final match.

“We were in every match and this team of hard workers showed a never-give-up attitude,” said coach Potter. “Our team’s heart and desire will pay off for us as the season continues.”

The wrestlers hosted New Fairfield on Wednesday and will be in Westport on Saturday at battle SWC rival Masuk and non-conference foes Montville and Staples. The following Wednesday, they will head to Milford to take on Jonathan Law.

Newtown                        46

Weston                             38

103: Kirschenbaum (W) by forfeit. 112: McIlrath (N) pinned Cohn (W) :31. 119: Giacolone (N) pinned Mueller (W) 2:28. 125: Kearns (N) technical fall over Moore (W) 17-1. 130: Bray (N) pinned Toutoungi (W) :49. 135: Meisel (W) pinned Terhaar (N) 3:49.140: Unger (W) pinned Sgammato (N) 3:49. 145: Andrews (N) pinned Wahl (W) 5:35.152: Ribeck (W) pinned O’Connor (N) 3:34. 160: Perry (N) pinned Parisi (W) 2:23.171: Read (N) technical fall over Witter (W) 15-0. 189: Breitling (N) pinned Sandler (W) 2:26. 215: Stryker pinned Thomas (N) 1:19. 279: Smith (W) pinned Schierloh (N) 2:49.

Bethel                              43

Newtown                        33

103: Solheim (N) by forfeit.112: Palermo (B) pinned McIlrath (N) 2:48. 119: Hodza (B) dec. Giacolone (N) 8-4. 125: Lance (B) pinned Rambone (N) :38. 130: Kearns (N) dec. Benitez (B) 18-16 in OT. 135: Bray (N) pinned Wolf (B) 2:29.140: Terhaar (N) pinned Kapstein (B) :25. 145: Ivan (B) pinned Andrews (N) 1:13. 152: Goodspeed (B) pinned O’Connor (N) :30.160: Wax (B) pinned Perry (N) 2:42. 171: Ford (B) major decision over Read (N) 10-0. 189: Cash (N) by forfeit. 215: Breitling (N) by forfeit.275: Olmstead (B) pinned Thomas (N) 1:32.

Killingly                          43

Newtown                        36

103: Phillips (K) by forfeit.112: LaBeef (K) pinned McIlrath (N) 5:38.119: Giacolone (N) pinned Peek (K) 3:14.125: Kearns (N) pinned Souza (K) 1:08. 130: Duffy (N) by forfeit. 135: Ferron (K) dec. Bray (B) 6-5.140: Terhaar (N) pinned Pechie (K) 1:11. 145: St. Laurent (K) pinned Andrews (N) 1:36. 152: Loomis (K) pinned O’Connor 1:24. 160: L. Loomis (K) pinned Perry (N) 2:58. 171: Read (N) pinned Brown (K) 1:17.189: Breitling (N) by forfeit.215: Barreto (K) major decision over Thomas (N) 8-0. 275: M. LaBeef (K) pinned Schierloh (N) :43.

A mirror image.

Back on Thursday, December 11, the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team had a commanding lead on Kolbe Cathedral and even though it all fell to pieces in the second half, the Lady Nighthawks held on for the win.

Then on Friday, January 9, the Kolbe Cathedral girls’ basketball team had a commanding lead on Newtown and even though it all fell to pieces in the second half, the Lady Cougars held on for the win.

A mirror image.

For the ‘Hawks, the first instance was cause for celebration – a solid win to kick off the 2003-04 season. But the next instance was cause for alarm – a second consecutive conference loss and third loss of the season.

The Lady Cougars were in control of the game right from the outset last Friday and had a 21-13 lead early in the second quarter. But Kelley Haines canned a three-point basket from the wing to not only score her 1,000th career point (as well as her 1,001st and 1,002nd), but also inject some life into the Lady Nighthawks.

An 8-2 run got the ‘Hawks right back into the game and by the end of the half the Cougars had a small, three-point lead.

Whatever momentum the ‘Hawks had gained, however, dissipated in the third quarter. The Cougars – led by Erica Beverly – built their lead up to 14 points with a 13-2 run to start the half.

But Ashley Larocque got hot, draining three baskets to help trim the Kolbe lead to just eight points, 41-33, by the close of the third period. That was just the beginning, though, of a magnificent 17-2 Newtown run that completely turned the game around.

Larocque popped in three more baskets, Jacky Curran added one of her own, and Julie Iwanicki canned a couple of free throws and just like that the ‘Hawks had taken a 44-43 lead. The Cougars took the lead back, but then Iwanicki popped in a runner in the lane to tie the score at 46-46 with 4:54 to go.

At that point, though, the luck had run out for the ‘Hawks.

Kolbe went on a 9-2 run to close out the game.

Larocque finished with a team-high 14 points while Haines added her 13 and Iwanicki chipped in with 10. Beverly led the Cougars – and all scorers – with 24 points while Rakeeda King and Janay Prim chipped in with 11 points apiece.

It was a tough loss to swallow, but at least the ‘Hawks were able to stop the mini streak with a 69-28 win over New Milford on Tuesday night. The ‘Hawks needed an easy win and they got it, as Haines canned 18 points (with a trio of three-pointers) to lead all scorers.

Stephanie Logan chipped in with 10 points as 12 different players scored. Tori Filler popped in seven points and Siobhan Cooper added six as, at the same time, Carly Curran (6) and Tara Gaston (2) scored their first varsity points in the win.

The ‘Hawks (6-3 overall, 4-2 in the South-West Conference) will host Pomperaug on Friday and will travel to New Fairfield next Tuesday.

NOTE: Newtown and New Milford combined to shoot just 17-of-44 from the free throw line, a dismal 38.6 shooting percentage. On a better note, Haines’ three three-point baskets give her 116 for her career (she entered the season with 93 career treys).

Newtown                        48

Kolbe Cathedral          55

NEWTOWN (48): Iwanicki 3 4-6 10, Curran 4 0-4 8, Logan 1 0-0 2, Larocque 6 2-3 14, Cooper 0 0-0 0, Haines 3 6-6 13, Filler 0 0-0 0, O’Connor 0 0-0 0, Simek 0 1-2 1 (Totals: 17 13-21 48); KOLBE (55): Robinson 1 1-2 3, Beverly 7 9-13 24, Rivera 0 2-2 2, Humbert 1 0-0 3, King 4 2-2 11, Prim 5 1-1 11, Cohen 1 0-0 2 (Totals: 19 15-20 55).

Three-pointers: Haines (N), Humbert (K), King (K).

New Milford                  28

Newtown                        69

NEWTOWN (69): Iwanicki 1 3-4 5, J. Curran 1 0-0 2, Palermo 0 0-0 0, Logan 5 0-4 10, Larocque 2 0-2 4, King 1 1-1 4, Haines 7 1-1 18, O’Connor 1 1-3 3, Cooper 3 0-0 6, Gaston 1 0-1 2, Foehrenbach 1 0-0 2, Filler 3 1-4 7, C. Curran 2 2-3 6 (Totals: 28 9-23 69); NEW MILFORD (28): Ferrence 0 0-2 0, Thomas 3 1-2 7, Richardson 1 0-0 2, Dumbroski 2 0-0 4, Sovero 2 1-4 5, Smith 2 1-3 5, Bryan 0 4-8 4, Deegan 0 0-0 0, Lindo 0 1-2 1 (Totals: 10 8-21 28).

Three-pointers: Haines (N) 3, King (N).

Even though Kolbe Cathedral wasn’t the Kolbe Cathedral of old, a win still would have been a heck of a thing for the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team to hang its collective hat on.

But the Nighthawks – who led 24-23 at the half – couldn’t quite deliver and fell 59-47 last Friday night. Andrew Fiscella canned 17 points to pace the ‘Hawks while Marcus Tracy added 10 and Dave Anderson contributed eight. Tishon Crawley of Kolbe led all scorers with 18 points. The game was marred by a spate of fouls as the two teams combined to take 52 foul shots.

The ‘Hawks held a slim 28-25 lead early in the second half before the explosive Cougars made their first run and by the close of the third period they had turned the game around and taken a 38-34 lead.

The Cougars held off the ‘Hawks the rest of the way.

The ‘Hawks rebounded, however, with a convincing 69-48 win over New Milford on Tuesday night. The ‘Hawks had to rally from an eight-point, first-period deficit but rallied quickly with a strong second period effort.

Fiscella led all scorers with 19 points, but Rouse managed to stand out yet again, put together his finest performance on the court with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Anderson chipped in with 14 points while Devon Manfredonia dished off nine assists.

Manfredonia and Shimko both drained three-pointers for the ‘Hawks.

The ‘Hawks – now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the South-West Conference – will travel to Southbury on Friday to battle Pomperaug and will return home on Tuesday, January 20, to host New Fairfield.

Kolbe Cathedral          59

Newtown                        47

NEWTOWN (47): Anderson 4 0-1 8, Fiscella 5 6-11 17, Smith 0 0-0 0, Tracy 4 2-3 10, Rouse 0 1-2 1, Manfredonia 1 1-2 3, Shimko 2 2-2 8, Santella 0 0-0 0, Quinn 0 0-0 0 (Totals: 16 12-21 47); KOLBE (59): Lee 1 0-0 2, Lane 2 2-3 6, Mosley 3 1-2 7, Bajda 5 4-7 14, Crawley 5 7-10 18, Puig 2 3-5 9, Jenkins 1 1-2 3, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 0-0 0 (Totals: 19 18-31 59).

Three-pointers: Shimko (N) 2, Fiscella (N), Puig (K) 2, Crawley (K).

Newtown                        69

New Milford                  48

NEWTOWN (69): Anderson 4 6-6 14, Fiscella 7 5-7 19, Manfredonia 1 0-0 3, Oliver 0 0-0 0, Shimko 4 0-0 9, Quinn 0 0-0 0, Rouse 6 6-10 18, Santella 1 0-2 2, Smith 2 0-0 4, Lyddy 0 0-0 0 (Totals: 26 17-25 69); NEW MILFORD (48): Baird 0 0-0 0, Elmendorf 1 0-0 3, Duffy 0 0-0 0, Minnick 2 0-0 5, Casagrande 4 3-4 15, Calhoun 3 0-0 6, LeVay 0 0-0 0, Olson 2 0-0 4, McCauley 1 0-0 2, Ward 4 2-3 10, Schlemmer 1 0-0 2, Hunter-Chu 0 0-0 0 (Totals: 18 6-9 48).

Three-pointers: Manfredonia (N), Shimko (N), Casagrande (NM) 4, Minnick (NM), Elemendorf (NM).

A four-day whirlwind.

Oh yeah, after a nearly two-week holiday layoff, the Newtown High School swim team really got down to business.

A meet against perennial powerhouse Pomperaug last Tuesday was only a prelude for the Nighthawks.

The whirlwind started last Friday as the ‘Hawks hosted Shepaug, traveled to New York to participate in the annual Wappingers Fall Invitational the next morning, and then returned home to host Bethel on Monday.

Three meets, four days, with modest results.

The ‘Hawks fell to Shepaug, 95-89, for their second consecutive loss (after opening the 2003-04 season with back-to-back wins); then performed pretty well at Wappingers Falls; and finished up by hammering Bethel, 93-80.

It was an especially good week for Andrew Heller and Chris Jacob. The two swimmers each grabbed three first-place finishes and one second-place finish in the two duals meets.

Against Shepaug, Heller was first in the 200 individual medley (2:17.24) and second in the 100 butterfly (1:01.53) and against Bethel he was first in the 200 individual medley (2:15.93) and first in the 500 freestyle (5:28.85).

Against Shepaug, Jacob was first in the 100 freestyle (54.13) and second in the 200 freestyle (2:00.90) and against Bethel he was first in the 50 freestyle (24.71) and first in the 100 freestyle (54.19)

More against Shepaug –

[Relaying it: The 200 medley relay team of Zack Moliver, Jake Maher, Heller and Dave LaMarche finished first at 1:55.23 while the 200 freestyle relay team of Chris Jacob, John Modzelewski, Maher and Sean Reilly finished second at 1:47.01.

[The old one-two, one-two: Jacob was first in the 100 freestyle (54.13) and second in the 200 freestyle (2:00.90) while Moliver was first in the 100 backstroke (1:04.33) and second in the 200 individual medley (2:22.57).

[Back end points: Scott Whalley was fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:15.50); Maher was fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.22); LaMarche was fifth in the 50 free (25.61) and fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:03.12); Modzelewski was fifth in the 100 freestyle (1:01.82); Jim Morlath was fifth in the 500 freestyle (6:28.09); and Mike Parker was fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:11.21).

[Diving in: Steve Truitt (188.15 points), CJ Maurer (187.15 points) and Lauren Borusso (142.20 points) went 1-2-4 off the board.

More against Bethel –

[Top finishers: CJ Maurer (100 butterfly – 1:04.89) was the only other individual winner and added a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:03.03). Meanwhile, the 200 medley relay team of Jacob, Maher, Heller and Maurer and the 200 freestyle relay team of Maurer, LaMarche, Truitt and Reilly also grabbed first-place finishes.

[Strong seconds: LaMarche (200 freestyle – 2:05.69) and Parker (200 individual medley – 2:37.92) performed well.

[Back end points: Modzeleski was fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:51.13), fourth in the 50 freestyle (28.67) and third in the 100 butterfly (1:10.25); Maher was third in the 50 freestyle (26.04); PJ O’Dell was fourth in the 100 freestyle (1:03.43).

The Nighthawks will host the Bunnell/Stratford Co-Op team on Tuesday, January 20, and won’t be back in the pool until Tuesday, January 27, when they host defending SWC champion Brookfield (now coached by former Newtown High School coach Brian Reiff).

Having lost five of their previous six games, the Newtown High School hockey team was desperate to break out of its holiday doldrums and a 2-1 victory over Division I Milford last Wednesday – on a Buzz LaPorta goal with 49 seconds left in regulation – seemed to be just the thing.

But success was fleeting as the Nighthawks dropped a 6-0 decision to Wilton on Saturday to fall to 4-6 overall, 4-3 in the South-West Conference.

The ‘Hawks were hoping a home-and-home with Watertown this week – and a return engagement with Housatonic Valley next Wednesday – would snap them out of the slump and get them moving in the right direction.

In the win over Milford, LaPorta scored a first-period goal off an assist from freshman Pat Daly to equal the goal notched by Brian D’Aurelio of Milford. The two teams were scoreless in the second period and nearly scoreless in the third until LaPorta banged home a shot off a pass from Corey Regensburger.

Newtown goaltender Peter Oggeri turned away 30 shots.

The lift the ‘Hawks may have gotten from the win did not cross the two-day gap in between that game and the game with Wilton last Saturday at the Danbury Ice Arena. The Warriors scored three first-period goals (the first at 14:38 of the first period and the last at :37 of the third period) enroute to the 6-0 win. Six different players scored goals.

Oggeri faced 51 shots in the loss and made 45 saves.

Milford                               1

Newtown                          2

GOALS: Newtown – Sean LaPorta (2); Milford – Brian D’Aurelia. ASSISTS: Newtown – Pat Daly, Corey Regensburger; Milford – Pat Romano, Dave Galvis. SHOTS: Newtown – 34; Milford – 33. SAVES: Newtown – Peter Oggeri (45); Milford – Rob Kaplan (32).

Wilton                                 6

Newtown                          0

GOALS: Wilton – Thomas Anderson, Patrick Milnamov, Pete Smith, Will Hutchison, Kevin McMahon, Jeff Enborg. ASSISTS: Wilton – McMahon, Smith, Milnamov, Dan Kaplan, Nick Pizzo.SHOTS: Newtown – 13; Wilton – 51. SAVES: Newtown – Peter Oggeri (45); Milford – Mike Jopling (13).