By Kim J. Harmon

“We’re excited.”

That was head coach Brian Reiff’s simple assessment on the prospects for the 1999-2000 swim season . . . which outsiders say has a chance to be – barring any unfortunate calamities, of course – one of the finest in the last 24 years, since Newtown went 16-0 back in the 1975-76 season.

No one is saying all of that however because 1) the season hasn’t even started yet; 2) teams like Pomperaug, Weston, Trumbull and Shepaug all sit prominently on the schedule; and 3) the South-West Conference remains one of the tougher swim conferences in the state.

But coach Reiff does say, “We’re excited.”

And for good reason, too. The Nighthawks lost just a few swimmers from a year ago and return 18 people – 18 quality people – to a team that numbers 26.

“We have a good mix of youth and veteran leadership,” said coach Reiff., who saw his team finish 13-3 during the regular season before claiming fifth at the SWC meet. “It’s exciting to have swimmers like Kane (Kunst) and Ryan (Eberts) on a team with a young kid like Tim Lux. It takes an extra ordinary amount of talent like that to compete against teams like Pomperaug.”

Kunst, a junior, is a strong, versatile swimmer who can dominate in the 100 butterfly as well as the 500 freestyle and then still have plenty left over for one of the freestyle relay or medley relay events – or both. Lux, a freshman, is recording some staggering times already in the distance events, which could allow coach Reiff to use a swimmer like Kunst in another event.

And then there is a guy like Ryan Eberts, who seems like an altogether different swimmer than the one who first walked out on the pool deck three years ago. Eberts, one of four captains, can dominate in just about any event coach Reiff throws him.

“After Ryan did so well at the SWCs last year,” said coach Reiff, “I think he got really focussed on being a great captain and being a great leader.”

There are more, too – guys like Matt Fries, Greg Chion, Joe Blanchard, Karlis Griffiths, Mark Kalb and Doug Johnston who not only have their specialties, but have the ability to pop into any event across the board.

“I haven’t had this many accomplished swimmers on one team before,” said coach Reiff. “I feel with the type of swimmers we have – and the depth – we could be a very good dual meet team.”

Lux is just one of the freshmen that coach Reiff is high on. Tim Robinson and Matt Payton are also looking real good in practices and those are the types of swimmers coach Reiff will challenge to reach the next level.

And if all else fails – which, of course, it doesn’t look like it will – there is still the ‘Hawks true ace in the hole . . . diving.

One of the top diving groups in the SWC is led by defending champ Alyssa von Oy (CIAC Class L runner-up) who, despite suffering an ankle injury that has limited her early practice, should rise to the top of the SWC again. Behind her, there is the solid state-class swimmer Greg Simoneau and then rising star Greg Taylor.

“It’s exciting to feel like we have an opportunity to compete with the top teams in our conference,” said coach Reiff.

Exciting for everyone.

SCHEDULE

DATE                      OPPONENT                  H/A             TIME

December 16                    West Haven                          H                       7:00

December 18                    Wappingers Falls                  A                       8 am

December 21                    Jonathan Law                        H                       7:00

December 22                    Trumbull                              H                       7:00

December 29                    Watertown                            A                       7:00

January 4                          Bunnell                                 H                       7:00

January 7                          Sacred Heart                         A                       TBA

January 11                        Brookfield                             H                       7:00

January 14                        Holy Cross                           H                       7:00

January 18                        Weston                                 H                       7:00

January 21                        Pomperaug                            A                       7:00

January 25                        New Fairfield                        A                       4:00

February 1                        Foran                                   H                       7:00

February 8                        Masuk                                   A                       4:00

February 9                        Shepaug                                A                       6:30

February 15                      New Milford                          H                       7:00

SWC Championship meet – February 26 at Masuk