Newtown High School’s boys’ cross country team will take on the best the South-West Conference has to offer with a lineup loaded with returning runners ready to prove themselves and build on last year’s winning ways.

“We are coming off a season where we enjoyed a lot of success and much growth. We were 10-3 last year and return a bunch of talented student-athletes,” Head Coach Carl Strait said.

The captains are Orion Lowery, Sam Irving, Reid Karnas, and Kyle June.

Additionally, Ubay Dissa, Duncan Kolb (injured after one meet last year), Warren Ache (newcomer), Aarav Shetty, Sebastian Colburn, Bryce Taylor (newcomer), and Ryder Symes will be looked to for strong results as the Nighthawks strive to be competitive week to week while building toward the postseason. Karnas, coming off injury last year, and Kolb will help add talent and depth to the lineup.

With returning runners healthy and with more experience under their belts, as well as the emergence of new team members, hopes are high for this campaign after a third-place finish in last year’s South-West Conference Championships.

“We are looking as a group to improve on our team record, our team’s placement in SWCs and States, and we are all looking to improve on our individual times each week. Should be a great run this fall,” Strait said.

Carl Strait and Assistant Coach Sara Strait are looking forward to “seeing what this great group of kids can do this year.”

It all begins Tuesday, September 9, when the Nighthawks visit Pomperaug at Settlers Park Cross Country Course in Southbury at 5 pm; Immaculate of Danbury and Bassick of Bridgeport will also participate. Newtown’s home meet is set for Tuesday, October 7, when Bunnell of Stratford, New Fairfield, and Notre Dame Prep of Fairfield visit the course at Reed School at 5 pm. The SWC Championships are set for Wednesday, October 15 at Bethel High starting at 4:30 pm.

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