With three-time South-West Conference champion New Milford having been hit hard by graduation, the wrestling title could be for the taking among several strong squads, Newtown Coach Ron Chivinski believes.

“I think a lot of teams are waiting to see if they can make a move. There are opportunities for the right type of team — if they can get focused — to make a run at winning the SWC. We’ll see if that’s us,” said Chivinski, adding that he is “cautiously optimistic” his team can improve upon last year’s fourth-place finish in the SWC championships.

The coach has been impressed with the work ethic of his lineup as they prepare for competition.

“That speaks to the seriousness they have. We’ll see if it spells out in matches,” Chivinski said. “There’s a good vibe to this room.”

Newtown dethroned New Milford in 2015; New Milford was won 11 of the last 12 conference championships, but teams such as Joel Barlow of Redding (runner-up last year), Bethel (fifth), and Chivinski’s Nighthawks (who were just two points behind third-place Pomperaug of Southbury) could be in the mix.

The Hawks struggled with depth the past couple of campaigns, and with 19 grapplers on the roster this winter, they are as close to having all weight classes filled as they have been in a few seasons.

“The biggest challenge, like always, is trying to fill those weight classes. Sometimes your talent doesn’t neatly fill in the boxes,” said Chivinski, alluding to the fact roster size can only go so far if there is not enough weight disparity to cover the 14 weight divisions.

Newtown was eighth in the Class LL State Championships and had four wrestlers place and advanced to the State Open. Aaron Occhipinti won at 126 pounds and is among graduates who will leave big shoes to fill, along with Owen Walsh and Doug Carriero (competing at the University of Maine).

Captains are Nike Accousti (132 pound weight division), Justin Bogdanoff (170), and Joe Zeller (heavyweight/285 division).

Accousti placed third at 132 in last year’s Class LL meet, and Zeller was second at 285 in both the SWC and LL meet as well as fifth in the State Open. Additionally, seniors Ayden Kasbarian and transfer Andrew Sayers are among the grapplers whom the coach says have something to prove.

“They’re hungry for a very stellar season,” the coach said.

Juniors Fritz Maurath and Steven Vournazos, whose weight classes were yet to be determined earlier in the week, are among the Hawks who can do some good things on the mats this winter, according to Chivinski.

“I think they’re going to be a healthy surprise,” he said.

The Hawks begin the season on Wednesday, December 12, when New Fairfield visits at 7 pm.