Sports

Perfect Ten: Nighthawk Dance Team Captures Program’s Tenth SWC Championship

By Andy Hutchison

Published: Feb 19, 2026 7:00 am

Putting their best feet forward, Newtown High School’s dancers proved to be the best once again. The Nighthawks won the South-West Conference Jazz Division title with a score of 288 at the South-West Conference Championships, held at Stratford High, on February 11, marking the program’s tenth SWC title. The Hawks were runners-up at last year’s SWC Championships before going on to claim the State Championship.

The jazz routine was choreographed by Head Coach Emily Marks and Assistant Coach Lindsay Brestovansky. NHS also performed its Pom routine. Although Pom is not an official SWC category, the routine was judged and scored. NHS had the second-highest score of 271.

Nighthawk dancers Piper Adolfson, Aquinnah Schmidt, Sophia Martinez, and Phoenix Sealey were named to the All South-West Conference Team.

The Hawks are led by senior captains Schmidt, Adolfson, Martinez, and Sealey, along with seniors Kesslyn Alvarez, Olivia Gulalo, Kathryn Kavovit, Alexa Schmid, Kayla Sinapi, and Lila Spencer. Juniors are Ava Geiger, Astrid Martin, and Gabi Weiss. Sophomores are Ava Jackson, Kailyn Lahey, and Sophia Lasaro. Freshmen are Emory Alvarez, Mackenzie Miskelly, Keegan Shope, and Kaela Zemo.

NHS will look to keep things rolling and successfully defend its Connecticut bragging rights in the State Championships at Farmington High on Saturday, February 28.

“I am just so proud and can’t wait to see what they can accomplish at states,” Marks said.

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

Newtown High School’s dance team captured the SWC Jazz title at Stratford High on February 11. —photo courtesy Emily Marks

The NHS dance team performs its Pom routine during halftime of a basketball game this winter. The squad competed in the SWC Championships on February 11. —Bee Photo, Hutchison

The NHS dancers in their Jazz attire at the SWC Championships. —photo courtesy Emily Marks

Newtown dancers in their Pom wardrobes at the conference championships. —photo courtesy Emily Marks

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Perfect Ten: Nighthawk Dance Team Captures Program’s Tenth SWC Championship

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