Newtown High School's boys' lacrosse team enters into the season looking to capitalize on its strengths and work hard to achieve as much as it can, both in terms of winning and getting the most out of players and the campaign itself.

"Our goal is to develop and compete every single day. We focus on improving with each practice and each rep, trusting that this steady growth will have us playing our best lacrosse in late May and early June. For us to be successful, we must prioritize our controllables every time we step on the field. Brotherhood, energy, and [competing] are the pillars of our program, and we strive to uphold them with consistency and purpose," Coach Tony Fitti said. "The strength of our team lies in our intangibles — the qualities that don’t show up on a scoresheet. Most of our players are multi‑sport athletes, and we take pride in our work ethic, athleticism, leadership, and sports IQ. What we may lack in pure lacrosse‑specific strengths, we make up for with a relentless competitive mindset. We enter every game with confidence and a drive to compete."

Last year, the Nighthawks went 13-7 and reached the Class L state tourney quarterfinals. "We’re excited to continue making strides in all areas of the field — offense, defense, and special teams — as we keep building on that foundation," Fitti said.

Captains who will help lead the way are defenders Cole Stockwell and CJ Manfredonia along with midfielders Marcus Gerace and Luke Stewart.

Other key Nighthawks back in the fold are attack players Nate Pickard, Nick Stockwell, Kyle June, and Jack Meade; midfielders Luke Gagnon (faceoff specialist), Graham Spencer, Billy Massett, and Cam Longhi; and defenders Henri Quirk, Tommy Kane, and Colin Dirga.

"Our senior class will be counted on to execute and lead at a high level this season. Cole Stockwell and CJ Manfredonia will anchor our defense, while Marcus Gerace and Luke Stewart are expected to guide our offensive unit. The mix of returning starters and players stepping into new roles gives us a strong and balanced foundation," Fitti said.

"Our junior class — led by Nate Pickard, Nick Stockwell, and Henri Quirk — brings valuable varsity experience that will be crucial as we take on a demanding schedule. Their readiness and competitiveness add important depth to our roster," the coach added. "Our coaches and players work tirelessly year‑round for our short, three‑month season. We’re excited to get started and watch our guys compete. Games are our chance to celebrate the work we’ve put in, and our staff gets a front‑row seat to all the great things this team will accomplish."

In an effort to go as far as possible in postseason, the Hawks have plenty of tough games on the regular-season slate.

"Our schedule is especially challenging this year. In addition to a highly competitive SWC slate, we’ve added several tough, historic programs from across Connecticut. We’ll face three of the four reigning state champions — New Fairfield, Guilford, and St Joseph (of Trumbull) — along with gritty, hard‑nosed teams like Stamford and Simsbury. Every game matters, and our mindset remains steady: one game at a time.”

The season begins Saturday, April 4, when St Joseph visits at 2 pm. Notable games on the schedule include a Saturday, April 11 matchup with visiting Simsbury for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Night at 6 pm and the 15 For Life & Youth Night Saturday, May 9 when Pomperaug of Southbury visits at 6 pm.

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