Newtown High School's girls' swimming and diving team earned a pair of victories to open the season on September 18. The Nighthawks proved good things come to those who wait — on many counts. First of all, this was the team's first meet at its home pool following summertime upgrades, then the season opener got bumped a few days before being further delayed by a bus delay for its opponents in Stratford; then, as if all of that was not enough, a fire alarm delayed things at the start.

Once the Nighthawks finally got down to business, they got the job done with a 50-29 win over Bunnell of Stratford and 50-31 victory over Stratford — sealing the team victories and exhibitioning the final three events of the meet.

Competition began with Newtown's 200 medley relay team, comprising Ella Murphy, Indigo Land, Reagan Garvin, and Sierra Marx, taking first place against both opposing schools in a time of 2:07.51. Against Stratford, Emma Sheehan was first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:34.49, and Jolene Brackett placed second in the 200 free, clocking in at 2:39.65; the same duo placed second and third versus Bunnell. Land and Madi Weston gave NHS a one-two finish against both schools in the 50 with times of 27.70 and 30.11.

Aliyah Reuther was the lone diver and gave the Nighthawks four points with her dive score of 183.30. Marx competed alone in the 100 butterfly race and finished in 1:13.17. In the 100 free, Murphy was first in 1:02.27 and Garvin second in 1:09.77 versus Stratford; the tandem went two-three versus Bunnell. NHS went one-two against Bunnell in the 500 free, with Sheehan winning in 6:59.55 and Giulia Rossi following in 7:19.91; the times were good for second and third versus Stratford.

Newtown took first and third overall in the 200 free relay. Marx, Weston, Sheehan, and Land finished the race in 2:00.63. Elin Lohmann, Brackett, Lia Suarez, and Rossi completed their race in 2:15.02. In the 100 backstroke, Marx had the second-fastest time, clocking in at 1:11.04. In the 100 breaststroke, Land was fastest in 1:22.25 and Brackett second in 1:25.87.

The 400 free relay squad comprising Sheehan, Garvin, Lohmann, and Murphy had the best time with a 4:26.45, and Weston, Rossi, Suarez, and Brackett came in third in 5:08.64.

NHS hosted Pomperaug of Southbury on September 22, and had a strong performance against a tough South-West Conference foe. NHS lost 99-73, but hung in there and kept the Panthers from going to exhibition until the final event.

"We performed really well against a team that was twice our size. We had some really close races, won a few events, and had several new SWC and State qualifying times," Coach Lisa Irving said.

Murphy, Brackett, Marx, and Land won the 200 medley relay in 2:10.14, narrowly edging Pomperaug's top relay, which finished in 2:10.62. Marx was second in the 200 free in 2:14.47. Land won the 50 in a time of 27.89. Reuther beat out a pair of Panther divers to win with a score of 172.55.

Marx took first in the 100 free in 59.93; Land was runner-up in the race with a 1:02.29. The 200 free relay team of Murphy, Garvin, Marx, and Land placed second in a time of 1:53.88, less than a second behind Pomperaug's winning time. Murphy claimed first in the backstroke event in 1:10.04.

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