Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team defeated visiting Stratford 95-77 on September 16. The Nighthawks had six first-place finishes and five runner-up results in the meet.

The 200 yard medley relay team of Sierra Marx, Indigo Land, Zoe Petertonjes, and Ella Murphy was second in 2:04.06, narrowly edged out by Stratford’s winning relay.

Marx won the 200 free in a time of 2:09.32. Land took second in the 50 in 27.28. Aliyah Reuther won the diving competition with a score of 164.35.

Petertonjes won the 100 butterfly in 1:02.00, Marx earned first in the 100 in 58.57, and Emma Sheehan won the 500, making her final touch in 6:36.49.

Newtown’s 200 free relay contingent of Petertonjes, Land, Sheehan, and Marx earned first in 1:52.15. Petertonjes was runner-up in the 100 backstroke race finishing in 1:05.46, Land took second in the 100 breaststroke event in 1:20.45, and the 400 free relay comprising Sheehan, Ella Viau, Reagan Garvin, and Murphy placed second in 4:30.92.

The Nighthawks earned key points with the following third-place outcomes: 200 medley relay Giulia Rossi, Jolene Brackett, Viau, and Garvin 2:30.01; 200 free Sheehan 2:28.19; 50 free Viau 30.65; 100 butterfly Viau 1:20.99; 100 free Garvin 1:09.65; 500 Rossi 7:29.82; 200 free relay Brackett, Briella Dunkle, Lucia Suarez, and Madison Weston 2:18.57; 100 backstroke Murphy 1:15.18; and 400 relay Weston, Rossi, Tess Rickey, and Brackett 5:33.56.

“This win was a huge team effort — we are really proud of how the girls stepped up and came together. We continue to see huge improvements across the board. We are looking forward to our next meet on Friday,” said Coach Lisa Irving, whose squad will host Bunnell of Stratford Friday, September 19 at 4 pm.

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