Newtown High School’s boys’ swimming and diving team celebrated its seniors as well as a victory to close out the regular season, defeating Masuk of Monroe 90-84 on Senior Night, February 20.

Jerry Stone, Jack Pettit, and Connor Kelly were all recognized, as were their senior counterparts representing the Panthers. In the pool, the Nighthawks earned first place in eight events and locked up the team victory after the 200 yard freestyle relay race.

“The seniors had a great meet — they swam very well. Jack Pettit, in particular, just continues to drop time. He’s a joy to be around,” Nighthawk Coach Ryan Eberts said.

Additionally, Alex Gadbut and Kyle Albrecht had especially strong swims. Pettit was part of Newtown’s 400 freestyle relay team, which had the event’s fastest time; Gadbut either won or was part of a winning relay in four events; and Albrecht had three first-place individual or relay results in the meet.

Many season and all-time best times were set in the pool just in time for postseason. The South-West Conference diving and swim finals were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively (after The Bee went to press).

NHS exhibitioned the final three events and cruised into the postseason feeling good about itself.

“It was a night of really good focus. We swam against a very good team and our guys swam to their potential and we’re really happy with the meet for them,” Eberts said.

Right out of the gate the 200 yard medley relay team comprising Elias Kolb, Finn Clancy, Albrecht, and Gadbut set the tone with a first-place swim in a time of 1:47.55, beating out Masuk’s second-place relay by less than a second. Newtown also took home third in the opening event with Beau Clancy, Sam Irving, Bradley George, and Trenton Story clocking in at 1:54.45.

In the 200 free, Gadbut won by 13 seconds in 1:56.91 and Pettit earned third in 2:10.29, less than a second away from second place.

Masuk took first and second in the 200 individual medley relay and Albrecht placed third in a time of 2:16.25. Kolb and George gave NHS a one-two finish in the 50 free with times of 24.39 and 25.37.

Story was second in diving with a score of 175.70; Warren Ache was third with a score of 160.58.

In the 100 butterfly, Albrecht raced to first in 57.02 and George placed third in 1:03.38. Newtown went one-two in the 100 free with Warren Ache clocking in at 52.05 and Finn Clancy finishing in 52.33. Gadbut won the 500, making his final touch in 5:04.51, and Irving was third in 5:28.15.

The 200 free relay contingent of Warren Ache, Finn Clancy, Kyle Albrecht, and Gadbut came in first in 1:34.73, two seconds ahead of Masuk’s runner-up relay, and Cameron Ache, George, Kelly, and Story took third in 1:45.63.

Beau Clancy was second in the 100 backstroke race with a time of 1:04.37. In the 100 breaststroke, Irving was second in 1:09.82 and Finn Clancy third in 1:10.28.

The 400 free relay team of Kelly, Pettit, Beau Clancy, and Warren Ache came in first in 3:46.85. Newtown’s 400 relay comprising Brady Wennerholm, Cameron Ache, Beau Clancy, and Irving was second in 4:12.06.

The Nighthawks are scheduled to compete in the South-West Conference Championships at Masuk Thursday, February 26 at 5 pm. The diving events took place at Pomperaug in Southbury the day before.

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