Newtown High School’s girls’ golf team is set to tee off and the defending South-West Conference champions are striving to earn another title. The Nighthawks are seemingly in good position to at least challenge for the top hardware given they return a strong group led by individual SWC champion Kendall Reed.

Reed and Norah Kolb are senior returnees; junior Aidan Herbstman and sophomore Maddy Watson are also back in the fold.

“We have a large group of kids to battle for starting spots,” said Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell, whose group had not yet named captains as of the end of March.

The goals this year are to repeat as conference champs and qualify for the state championships, O’Connell said. The coach added that a little bit of luck and the weather will also dictate how things transpire.

The Nighthawks may be a favorite but there will be some tough competition. Immaculate of Danbury, Masuk of Monroe, and Joel Barlow of Redding are teams that could win the SWC, according to O’Connell.

Home matches will be played at Newtown Country Club. NHS is scheduled to begin the season with consecutive matches against Joel Barlow. The opener, at home, was originally scheduled for April 7 but may be postponed until April 21. The Hawks will be on the road, at Redding Country Club, on April 19; matches are at 3 pm.

In addition to taking on SWC rivals, the Hawks will take on FCIAC teams Trumbull and Ridgefield.

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