By Kim J. Harmon

You know – now that we can sit back in a reflective repose – what transpired during the 2002-03 season could be as exciting as what should likely transpire during the 2003-04 season.

Andrew Fiscella and Kelley Haines had two of the most successful individual seasons in Newtown High School basketball history and stand poised not only on the brink of the 1,000-point plateau, but well within reach of school records.

Fiscella scored 458 points, the best individual effort since Andrew Gellert scored 499 in 1998. With the 2002-03 season complete, Fiscella has 912 points – good enough, right now, for fourth on the all-time list. When the 2003-04 season comes around, Fiscella will need just 226 points to leapfrog Randy Gunther, 236 points to leapfrog Gellert, and 369 points to leapfrog Steve Kordish to the all-time record.

Haines finished with 472 points, the best since Kasey Keating scored 500 in 1989. With the 2002-03 season complete, Haines has 858 points – also good enough, right now, for fourth on the all-time list. When the 2003-04 season comes around, Haines will need just 39 points to leapfrog Katie Lyddy, 56 points to leapfrog Keating, and 258 points to leapfrog Lynn Lattanzio to the all-time record.

Wow.

It could turn into a GREAT year.

But what just happened – what is still pretty fresh in our memories – was pretty great, too. There was an individual conference championship for Peter Terrance in indoor track, an individual state championship for Jon Read in wrestling, and a Colonial Division championship for the girls’ basketball team among many, many other things.

Take a look –

 

Girls’ Basketball –

When Newtown graduated four starters from a team which was not only a runner-up to the SWC championship, but one that also set the record for wins in a season, no one had any right to expect the Lady Nighthawks to accomplish too much in the 2002-03 season.

But they did.

They finished 21-4, 17-1 in the SWC, and earned the Colonial Division championship and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament (the first time that happened under coach Gregg Simon). But the upper tier of the SWC was really strong this year and the ‘Hawks – who snuck through the quarterfinals with an overtime win over Pomperaug – were knocked out by a ferocious Notre Dame team.

Two games into the CIAC Class LL state tournament, it was all over.

Besides Haines’ magnificent season, there were also some shining performances from players like Stephanie Logan, Julie Iwanicki, and Ashley Larocque. It was Larocque who, perhaps, impressed the most with her ability to hit the outside jumper.

And remember this – the team finished 21-4 and did not have to hold any Senior Night festivities this season because there weren’t any seniors. Everyone will be back next year for another shot at a championship.

 

Boys Basketball –

Fiscella might have gotten a LOT of attention from opposing teams – and with good reason, obviously – but the Nighthawks showcased another dominant offensive threat in Mike Troy.

After a school- and state-record effort on the soccer pitch during the fall, Troy had a spectacular season with 401 points (giving him 709 for his career, good enough for ninth on the all-time list). He scored a career-high 39 points in a CIAC Class L state tournament win over South Windsor and helped lead the ‘Hawks to a 17-7 record.

In the SWC tournament, the ‘Hawks shocked a strong Notre Dame team in the quarterfinals before stumbling a bit in a semi-final loss to Stratford. In the CIAC Class L state tournament, the ‘Hawks pummeled South Windsor before suffering a second-round loss to Newington.

 

Swimming –

The Nighthawks did not want a lot. All they wanted was to finish third.

With a strong Pomperaug team and an even stronger Brookfield team taking control of the SWC, Newtown could do no more than hope to finish third at the conference championship. To some it might not sound like much, but it was a BIG accomplishment.

It helped to alleviate the angst the ‘Hawks were feeling over losing to New Fairfield during the dual meet season. They dedicated themselves to beating the Rebels at the conference meet and did just that.

CJ Maurer (diving) and Andrew Heller (100 butterfly) earned second-place finishes and everyone recorded personal best times at the meet – some of those times dropping by more than 15 seconds.

The ‘Hawks were bolstered this year by a strong diving contingent and the arrival of Chicago transfer Eric Taylor. And they will be bolstered next year by a strong returning core and the expected arrival of some talented freshmen.

And maybe they will take a step towards second . . . or even first.

Wrestling –

There were no true superstars on the Newtown wrestling team, just lots and lots of good wrestlers.

That helped the Nighthawks do something during the 2002-03 season that hasn’t happened in quite some time – fill all the weight classes. While the ‘Hawks, in the past, always seemed to dominate in the low to mid-weight classes and being able to cover up their weaknesses in the higher weights, wrestlers like Edmund Brietling (171), Ron Iser (189), Brandon Thomas (215) and Justin Alter (275) made the team a lot more balanced.

Seven wrestlers earned ribbons at the SWC tournament, allowing the ‘Hawks to capture third place. And while there were no individual champions there, senior Jon Read (145) earned a CIAC Class L state championship by pinning Jorge Gutierrez of Brien McMahon at 5:33 of the third period.. He also became the second winningest wrestler in Newtown history (behind James ‘Prez’ Monroe).

Hockey –

Returning to the ice for the first time in two decades last year, Newtown did pretty well in finishing 9-10-1. In 2002-03, in their first year as a varsity program, the Nighthawks did even better.

A 10-11-1 record helped put the Nighthawks into the SWC playoffs and the CIAC Division II state tournament. Although they lost to Masuk in the conference tournament and Greenwich in the state tournament, the ‘Hawks still had a lot to be happy about.

Senior Al Mazur had another strong year, scoring 27 goals and assisting on 22 more for 49 points (he finished his high school career with 50 goals and 28 assists). The arrival of sophomore Nick Harris, however, provided the ‘Hawks with another startling offensive weapon. Harris finished with 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points and gave coaches Paul Esposito and Ken Kantor the ability to be very flexible with all their lines.

The team was strong on defense as well, with guys like Mike Skiba, Matt Glander, Greg Korotash and goaltenders Peter Oggeri and Nick Magoulas playing well throughout the season.

It was just their second year, but the Nighthawks arrived in 2002-03.

Indoor track –

The sport floats under the radar for most of the winter, but when the SWC meet arrived in February it was time for some athletes to shine.

Like Peter Terrance.

Head coach Dave Foss had a huge team and a lot of strong athletes to work with in 2002-03, but Terrance rose above all the rest when he captured first place in the 600-meter run at the SWC meet (and set a conference record at the same time). A superior cross country runner in the fall, Terrance set himself up for another strong season this spring.

The Newtown boys finished fifth and the Newtown girls finished seventh at the SWC meet, making for a fine finish to the winter season.