One, Two, Three For Thrower Wlasuk

By Andy Hutchison

BETHEL — Newtown High School’s boys’ track and field team placed eighth in the 12-team South-West Conference Championships at Bethel High School on Monday. Leading the way was sophomore John Wlasuk, who earned a trio of top-three placements in throwing events. He won the discus throw competition with a heave of 148-05.50, earned second in the shot put event with a throw of 44 and placed third in the javelin event with his throw of 162.

Newtown scored 36.5 points as a team. Bunnell won the meet with a score of 111.

Peter Wlasuk, John’s older brother and a senior on the Nighthawks, also competed in the SWC championships and the duo will again represent the Hawks in the upcoming state championships.

John qualified for states in all three throwing events and Peter qualified in the javelin throw, as well as in the 110 meter high hurdles.

John may only be a sophomore, but Peter says it is his younger brother who provides the advice when the siblings work together in practice.

“He’s my throwing coach. He helps me out in a big way,” the senior said.

Participating in the SWC meet was exciting for everyone involved.

“You’re going against the best athletes, so you’ve got to come out with your best,” Peter said.

“You’ve got the best of the best going head to head,” said NHS senior Dave Meyer, who competed as a member of the 4x800 meter relay team and also raced in the 3200.

Newtown’s Kevin Bonacci qualified for the SWC meet in four events: long jump, the 4x100 relay race, javelin and high jump. That makeup of versatility meant a lot of running around for Bonacci (even in between events). These events all unfolded at or around the same time leaving Bonacci no time for rest to recharge between his jumps, throws and run.

“Sometimes it’s pretty close,” said Bonacci, adding that the scorers will hold up the start of an event when necessary.