Sports

Hawk Swimmers And Divers Make Splash — Relay Captures First — As Postseason Begins

By Andy Hutchison

Published: Mar 06, 2026 6:55 am

MONROE — Led by a first-place finish from the 200 yard free relay team, Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving squad had a tremendous showing at the South-West Conference Championships, which culminated with swimming events at Masuk High on February 26. Warren Ache, Kyle Albrecht, Finn Clancy, and Alex Gadbut raced to a time of 1:31.48, edging Pomperaug of Southbury’s runner-up squad, which finished in 1:31.66. The relay team knocked five seconds off its seed time. Gadbut also earned second in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:48.04 and third in the 500 free in 4:56.60.

As a team, Pomperaug was first with 547 points, Brookfield was second with 435, and Newtown placed fourth as a team with 327 points, just one point behind third-place Weston. The diving competition took place at Pomperaug High in Southbury on February 25.

“We are so proud of how the guys swam. Across the board, we had great performances where the team rose to the challenges,” NHS Head Coach Ryan Eberts said. “We knew that the 200 free relay had the potential to be conference champions and would be underestimated by the other teams. They were in lane six — the farthest outside lane — and we kept saying that outside smoke was real and that if they swam to their potential we really believed they could take it. We’re incredibly proud of how those four guys brought for that relay and for their team.”

In the first swim event, the 200 medley relay, Newtown’s Elias Kolb, Finn Clancy, Albrecht, and Warren Ache were sixth in a time of 1:46.03. The 200 medley relay team comprising Beau Clancy, Sam Irving, Bradley George, and Trenton Story took ninth in 1:52.58.

Albrecht was eighth in the 200 individual medley relay race in 2:13.09. In the 50 free, Warren Ache was third in 22.74 and Kolb seventh in 23.42. Albrecht earned fourth in the 100 butterfly race in a time of 55.19. Finn Clancy placed ninth in the 100 freestyle race in 52.29. Irving placed 12th in the 500 in 5:30.73.

Kolb was 11th in the 100 backstroke event in a time of 1:01.33. In the 100 breaststroke race, Finn Clancy was eighth in 1:07.55 and Irving ninth in 1:07.84. Jerry Stone placed 11th in the race with a time of 1:10.31. The 400 free relay team of Gadbut, Kolb, Irving, and Story placed fourth in 3:31.72. Newtown’s other 400 free relay team of Brady Wennerholm, Lucas Velasco, Ryan Lombard, and Cameron Ache was ninth in 4:06.62.

Divers Warren Ache and Story placed seventh and eighth, respectively, with scores of 266.75 and 266.15.

“We are so proud of how the boys swam and dove at this meet,” Assistant Coach Lisa Irving said. “They had some really well-deserved performances. We were especially proud of their positivity and support for each other — we are looking forward to the upcoming state meets.”

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

Newtown High’s 200 yard freestyle relay team won first place in the SWC Championships at Masuk High in Monroe on February 26. Pictured are, from left: Kyle Albrecht, Alex Gadbut, Finn Clancy, and Warren Ache. —photo courtesy Lisa Irving

Beau Clancy competes for the Nighthawks.

Sam Irving swims the breaststroke during the medley relay event.

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Hawk Swimmers And Divers Make Splash — Relay Captures First — As Postseason Begins

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