Swimmers Cap Season With Record-Setting Efforts In Class L and State Open Meets
Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming team had excellent showings at both the Class L State Championships at the Cornerstone Aquatics Center in West Hartford on March 16 and the State Open Yale University in New Haven on March 18. There were a trio of school records, a Class L standard, and State Open mark set during these eventful days in the water.
The Nighthawks finished ninth overall with 284 points in Class L.
The 200 yard medley relay of Peter Horan, Grant Carson, Gabe Petertonjes, and Connor Kwarcinski was second in school-record time, finishing in 1:37.40.
In the 200 individual medley, Petertonjes came in eighth in 2:10.11 and Carson was 23rd in 2:14.79. Newtown had a pair of top finishers in the 50 freestyle with Horan taking first in 20.94 and Kwarcinski finishing third in 21.50. In the 100 butterfly race, Petertonjes placed 11th in 55.22. In the 100 free, Kwarcinski was fifth in 48.03.
The 200 free relay of James Guerrieri, Oliver Clancy, John Barzetti, and Hayden Bobowick was 15th in 1:40.85.
Horan broke the Class L record in the 100 backstroke, making his final touch in 49.22.
Carson was 16th in the 100 breaststroke race in 1:08.08. The 400 free relay of Kwarcinski, Bobowick, Petertonjes, and Horan placed sixth, clocking in at 3:20.33.
In the State Open, Newtown again came in ninth, scoring 201 points.
The 200 medley relay was sixth with a time of 1:37.91.
Horan set the school mark in the 50 free with a time of 20.71. Kwarcinski placed third in the 50 with a 21.29. In the 100 free, Kwarcinski earned sixth with a time of 47.97.
Horan won the 100 backstroke in 48.91, setting State Open record and school records in the process.
The 400 free relay set a school record with its sixth-place finish in 3:15.06.
Several Nighthawk swimmers earned conference, state and All American recognition. All South-West Conference First Team honors went to Horan, Carson, Petertonjes, and Kwarcinski; Honorable Mention was earned by Guerrieri; All State honorees are Horan, Carson, Petertonjes, and Kwarcinski; and Horan picked up All American status for his backstroke performance.