Newtown High School’s wrestling team is the defending South-West Conference champion but lost six grapplers who were conference place winners to graduation. The good news for the Nighthawks is that Steven Vournazos, who sustained a season-ending injury early on last year, is back in the fold, and there are some newcomers who accomplished big things at youth level last winter, helping to fill some of those voids.

So what does all of this mean in terms of what we can expect from a team that is traditionally one of the best in the SWC and among the better teams in the state?

“I’m cautiously optimistic that we can develop into an extremely competitive team by the end of the season,” said Coach Ron Chivinski, adding that the lineup features several new wrestlers who are showing promise in preseason.

“The team we are in December will not be the team we are in February. There will be a lot of development and growth as we move along,” Chivinski said. “We’re not going to concede anything. We’re going for it again, but its going to take a lot of work in the practice room. That’s on the coaches — that’s on us. How quickly can we develop our raw talent.”

Newtown’s coach said the team comprises athletes who are committed to the sport of wrestling, giving him confidence in the squad.

Captains are Fritz Maurath, an SWC finalist last year, who is projected to grapple in the 152-pound weight division, along with Vournazos, who will likely wrestle at 170.

“He’s hungry and has a lot to prove,” Chivinski said about Vournazos. “I’m very optimistic about both of them.”

Steven Leuci, likely at 160, is the team’s lone returning State Open qualifier from a year ago. Leuci also placed in the Class LL state championship meet last winter.

James Tibolla (113), Benjamin Watson (138), and Ryan Callahan (182) all put in significant offseason efforts, Chivinski said.

Freshmen Luca Manfredi (106) and Ben Plaue (120) earned middle school state championships in the youth program last year. “They will make their presence felt immediately in the lineup,” Chivinski anticipates.

Newtown’s coach believes Joel Barlow of Redding, which has finished runner-up in the SWC two straight years and battled Newtown to the final bout last winter, is a top-ten team in the state. New Milford, which had won 11 of the previous 12 conference crowns (NHS won it all in 2015) before Newtown’s win last year, is reloaded with talent, Chivinski added.

The season gets going on Tuesday, December 17, when Brookfield visits at 7 pm.

This year’s SWC championships are at Pomperaug High in Southbury, scheduled for Saturday, February 15. The SWC event had been at New Fairfield High in recent years.

Newtown placed 12th in last year’s Class LL state championships. The state competition will unfold at Trumbull High on February 21 and 22.