NHS Swimmers Prove Their Stature With Brookfield Win

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School girls’ swim coach Zach Gauvin thought his team had a good chance of being in the same “pool” as the Brookfields and Pomperaugs, two of the South-West Conference’s top teams each year. The Nighthawks passed test number one, out-swimming rival Brookfield 94-84 at home on Tuesday, September 20, to improve to 2-0. Newtown had defeated Oxford in the season opener, 94-71 on September 16.

“The meet today versus Brookfield really shows where we stack up in the SWC and the state as a whole. The girls swam tough both mentally and physically throughout the entire meet. More importantly, today we came together as a team and got the job done,” Gauvin said. “Winning a meet against a team as great as Brookfield is a fantastic accomplishment for us but there is still work to be done if we want to achieve all of our team goals this season.”

The Nighthawks are striving for a top-three finish in the conference, and the team’s next top-tier test will likely come when Pomperaug of Southbury visits on October 14. That gives the Hawks nearly a month to improve on times and gear up for that big meet. There will be plenty of chances to compete in the interim, beginning with Joel Barlow of Redding visiting for 4 pm meet on Friday, September 23.

In the win over Brookfield, Newtown’s 200-yard medley relay team of Kelley Baylis, Zoe Eggleston, Kelsey McEvoy, and Amy Martinelli took first place. In the 200 freestyle, Abby Fagerholm was second, and Amanda Mele earned third. Newtown also had a two-three finish in the 200 individual medley — actually, a two-three-three finish as Annika Fagerholm was runner-up, and sisters Zoe and Eliza Eggleston tied for third. In the 50 free, Amy Martinelli and Kelley Baylis were second and third, respectively.

McEvoy was first and Sally Martinelli came in third in the 100 butterfly. Amy Martinelli took first and Mele was third in the 100 free. In the 500 free, Abby Fagerholm came in second.

In the 200 free relay, Newtown earned second and third place. The second-place team comprised Amy Martinelli, Kelley Baylis, Mele, and McEvoy; and third went to Jane Sclafani, Kate Martinelli, Kim Gates, and Ellen Atkinson.

Kelley Baylis was second in the 100 backstroke, and Kelsey Baylis claimed third in the backstroke race. In the 100 breaststroke Annika Fagerholm was second, and Zoe Eggleston placed third.

Newtown’s 400 free relay team of Charlotte Gray, Mele, Eliza Eggleston, and Abby Fagerholm was second.

The Nighthawks took the top three spots in diving, with Noelle Benson winning the competition, followed up runner-up Lauren O’Connell, and Natalie Poeltl.

Newtown took first place in each event in the win over Oxford as follows: 200 Medley Relay – Kelley Baylis, Zoe Eggleston, Amy Martinelli, Charlotte Gray’ 200 Free – Abby Fagerholm; 200 IM – Zoe Eggleston; 50 Free – Amy Martinelli; 100 Fly – Amy Martinelli; 100 Free – Mele; 500 Free – Abby Fagerholm; 200 Free Relay – Charlotte Gray, Zoe Eggleston, Mele, Abby Fagerholm; 100 Back – Kelley Baylis; 100 Breastoke – Annika Fagerholm; 400 Freestyle Relay – Amy Martinelli, Mele, Abby Fagerholm, Kelley Baylis; Diving – Poeltl.