Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team begins the season Tuesday, December 21, against nonconference foe Oxford in a 6 pm home meet. The next competition is not until after the holidays; South-West Conference opponent New Fairfield visits Tuesday, January 4 at 4 pm.

“I can’t wait for this season to start. The SWC has moved all the dual meets to after the New Year so everyone will have a month to get ready which should lead to some really fast swims around the league,” Coach Adam Fielding said.

The Hawks have their first road meet on Tuesday, January 11 at Pomperaug of Southbury, starting at 7 pm; Pomperaug has won nine consecutive conference championship meets.

“I’m looking forward to the Brookfield and Masuk (of Monroe) meets; they are always close,” Fielding said.

Newtown hosts Brookfield on Tuesday, January 25, and entertains Masuk Tuesday, February 8, both scheduled to take place at 4 pm. Masuk was runner-up, Brookfield third, and Newtown fourth in last year’s SWC championships, a virtual event due to coronavirus restrictions.

“I think we are all looking forward to a ‘real’ championship season,” Fielding said of the plan for an SWC championship meet in which all schools are on hand, as well as state championships after last year’s were called off due to COVID protocol.

“Goals are to be competitive in all the dual meets, get faster as the year progresses, learn what the nine new swimmers are capable of,” Fielding said. “The team strength is going to be our depth and versatility.”

Fielding will have nine meets and weeks of practices to figure out how to get the most out of each swimmer and every event before championship season.

The Nighthawks are led by captains Matt Irving (freestyle and backstroke), Deagan Granville (individual medley and freestyle), and Collin Granville (individual medley and breaststroke). Other team members the coach will look to for significant points are Peter Horan (backstroke), Gabe Petertonjes (butterfly and backstroke), and Max Luci-Bernard (fly and free).

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