MONROE — In one of the most individual-based athletic competitions, swimming meets, sometimes it takes an all-around team effort to get the job done. Just ask Ryan Eberts, coach of the Newtown High School boys’ swim team which, on February 7, got just that en route to a 90-80 victory over the host Masuk Panthers.

“We swam in some off events to get a team victory rather than personal victories. A lot of guys really rose to the occasion,” Eberts said.

The Nighthawks did this in an effort to pick up points in certain events, including not necessarily winning those races but taking key points with second- and third-place finishes. The Hawks won six of the 11 swim events. First is worth eight points in relays and six in individual races and the Hawks took first in all three relay events; Newtown had four second-place finishes — worth four points across the board — and logged six third-place results in the first eight events to build a lead.

Eberts pointed to Connor Kwarcinski, usually a sprinter, who swam the two longest individual events, the 200 freestyle and 500 free, claiming second in both races. He finished the 200 in 1:52.00, narrowly edged out by Masuk’s Brendan Kirberger who completed the race in 1:51.41, and clocked in with a 500 time of 5:14.55.

“I can’t say enough about him. His work ethic in practice and attitude are making him have a tremendous season thus far,” Eberts said.

“I’m very proud of Connor for doing those races out of his comfort zone, swimming longer races than he ever has, and then swimming a 50.4 in the lead off of the final relay. That’s a gutsy swim at the end of a hard night, and it speaks to his character,” said Eberts, referring to the 400 free relay, also consisting of James Guerrieri, Kris Luci-Bernard, and Peter Horan. The relay finished in 3:32.34 to ice the team triumph.

Horan was another swimmer who stepped up to the plate. Horan did his usual thing by winning the 100 backstroke event in 54.72, nearly six seconds ahead of the next closest finisher, but also scored significant points with a win in the 200 individual medley race. Horan finished in 2:07.03, more than seven seconds in front of the next finisher. “We needed him to win it,” Eberts said.

“Grant Carson is the heart and soul of team morale,” said Eberts, adding that Carson swam his usual events and provided a lot of versatility with strong performances in the IM, 100 breaststroke, and relays. Carson took second and was Newtown’s fastest swimmer in the breaststroke event, making his final touch in 1:10.00.

The 200 medley relay team of Horan, Kwarcinski, Gabe Petertonjes, and Hayden Bobowick won in 1:42.55.

Masuk may have claimed first in the 200 free, but Newtown racked up more points in the event. Second-place Kwarcinski was followed by teammates Guerrieri in 2:07.08 and John Barzetti in 2:15.50.

Petertonjes was third in the IM in 2:16.23, followed by Carson in a time of 2:20.01. Max Luci-Bernard won the 50, sprinting to the finish in 23.34. Petertonjes was third in the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:00.13. Max Luci-Bernard came in second in the 100 in 52.64. Guerrieri placed third in the 500 in a time of 5:41.22.

The 200 free relay contingent of Petertonjes, Bobowick, Guerrieri, and Luci-Bernard came in first in 1:41.08.

Newtown is home Tuesday, February 14, to take on Bunnell-Stratford at 6 pm.

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