Sports

Boys' Volleyball Team Making Strides, Posts Victories

By Andy Hutchison

Published: May 01, 2026 6:45 am

Newtown High School's boys' volleyball team defeated host Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport 3-0 on April 23, lost 3-2 at Fairfield Ludlowe on April 25, and bounced back with a 3-0 win over visiting Harding of Bridgeport on April 27.

In the win over Harding, set scores were 25-12, 26-24, and 25-6. Noel McLeod led the Nighthawks with 14 kills and 15 digs, Kade Dearney had four aces to go along with 17 assists, Sam Irving had nine digs, Ian Akbas and Talmaje Bacon both tallied seven digs, and Trenton Story logged a pair of aces.

Ludlowe overcame NHS, winning the first two games to prevail 3-2 (26-28, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17, and 15-10). Newtown beat Kolbe by scores of 25-23, 25-19, and 25-18. McLeod racked up 17 kills; McLeod, Akbas, Irving, and Dearney all registered nine aces; Dearney had 22 assists and a pair of aces; and Sebastian Los recorded two blocks. The Nighthawks improved to 6-4 this season. The Hawks are a young team with a small lineup loaded with new-to-varsity players.

"We've made strides — we're getting better every day," NHS Coach Abbi Debes said. "I think they're handling it well."

The Nighthawks (1-1 in South-West Conference action) have a bulk of their conference play ahead of them. Newtown visits SWC foe Pomperaug of Southbury Friday, May 1 at 5:15 pm in a match that counts only in the state standings; the teams meet again in their conference clash at NHS later in May. Newtown hosts Bunnell of Stratford in an SWC matchup Monday, May 4 at 5:30 pm.

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

Ian Akbas (No 3) goes up for a hit at the net during Newtown’s 3-0 win over visiting Harding on April 27. —Bee Photos, Hutchison

Sam Irving keeps the ball in play for the Hawks.

Trenton Story goes up for a block at the net.

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Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

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I am glad to see First Selectman Bruce Walczak engaging the electorate. Mark your calendars, folks — apparently, communication from Town Hall is possible after all. But where was Bruce two days ago, when Connecticut State Police requested assistance from Newtown Police after two individuals fled on foot from an I-84 crash? As a manhunt went through town, police were stationed at our schools, and many residents checked their car doors, deadbolted their houses, and armed themselves (Thank you James from Port Conway). That sounds like exactly the kind of situation where residents would expect timely communication from town leadership. Parents, neighbors, and residents in the affected area should not have to piece together information after the fact while police are actively searching the community. The issue is not whether our police did their job. They did. The issue is whether Town Hall is doing its job when it comes to keeping residents informed during real-time public safety situations. If the First Selectman can write to residents about the importance of showing up for the budget, he should also show up when residents are looking for clear, timely information during an active police incident. This kind of communication was promised during the campaign. Unfortunately, Bruce Walczzzzak is starting to look like just another politician: campaign on change, criticize the last guy, ask taxpayers for more staff, and then tell residents the job still cannot be done.

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Where was our CodeRED? For over 4 years Newtown has a CodeRED system. The town tells residents it exists for emergencies and points to things like missing persons, wildfires, and criminal activity as the kinds of incidents it is meant to address. Yet we had no CodeRED for Kateri Doty, no CodeRED for the brush fires, and no CodeRED for yesterday’s manhunt with police and tracking dogs moving through our backyards. That is not one oversight. That is a pattern. Under sleepy Bruce Walczak, the town has an emergency notification system that never seems to get used when actual emergencies happen. Whether or not Bruce physically sends the alert himself is beside the point. If the system is not being used, if residents are left hearing about dangerous situations from Facebook and the neighbors’ kids instead of from their own government, then that failure belongs to him. Newtown residents should not have to guess when there is a public safety issue unfolding around them. If Bruce Walcz"zzz"ak cannot make sure an emergency alert system is used for emergencies, then what exactly is he doing?

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Boys' Volleyball Team Making Strides, Posts Victories

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