A Sweet Spring for Newtown High Athletics

The spring sports season at Newtown High School was filled with a plethora of emotions. There was bliss, and sprinkled in was some heartbreak.

It was a year in which trophies were hoisted and wins piled up in unbelievable fashion.

There were standout seniors, who delivered one lasting courageous performance after another, before trading in their uniform for a high school diploma.

There were also remarkable contributions made by underclassmen -- many of whom had stepped into the athletic spotlight for the first time.

From the beginning of spring practice to the softball team's captivating run to the Class LL title game, the season included everything a fan could ask for.

The softball team, which swept through the regular season and conference tournament, provided the most memorable chapter in the storybook season. The Nighthawks won 26 consecutive games and their first conference championship since 1989.

Although the run ended with a loss to Westhill as they stood on the doorstep of the state championship, the Nighthawks' performance was inspiring.

In one brisk, seven-inning stretch, Westhill not only handed Newtown its first loss of the season, but it also remained the last team standing in the Class LL state tournament.

For the hearty contingent of Newtown fans, who had cheered nearly every pitch at Stratford's DeLuca Field that Saturday night, all that was left to do was applaud. Many of them, obviously wishing for a different outcome, rose to their feet and clapped.

The moment was bittersweet, but at the same time, rewarding. With each and every clap was an appreciation for three months of memorable moments.

After all, there were plenty this spring -- for all of Newtown High's athletic teams. It was a banner season, in more ways than one.

Earning one of the highest of honors this spring was girls lacrosse star Lisa Vendel, a senior, who was named to both the All-American and All-State teams. Vendel scored 68 goals during the regular season and at times, almost single-handedly carried the Nighthawks to victory.

Case in point was an early-season win against South-West Conference rival Brookfield, in which Vendel negated Brookfield's furious second-half rally by scoring four straight goals over a three minute, 31-second span.

Joining Vendel on the All-State first team were senior attack Meghan Bridges (49 goals) and junior midfielder Kaitlin Brophy (50 goals).

To put Newtown's dominance on the field in perspective, consider this: In the regular season, no team finished fewer than six games over .500. Between baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, softball and boys and girls tennis, those six teams combined for an 85-16 record entering the SWC tournament.

The success was remarkable and unmatched. On many afternoons, the suspense, which drives each fan to the edge of his seat and breathes more life into each event, was over early. Newtown often won, and it did so convincingly.

Most impressive of those regular season wins came on the rackets of the boys tennis team, which on April 28, stunned perennial powerhouse Weston 5-2. Entering the match, Weston was every bit of Goliath, having beaten every conference opponent since 2005.

The cold winds which swept through Newtown's Treadwell Park that afternoon did not spoil the genuine excitement of the crowd. As the final set in the near four-hour match approached, the volume of the crowd reached its highest pitch. The win was a memorable accomplishment, one in which Newtown coach Martin Margulies said he never seriously imagined attaining.

On May 24, the boys tennis team faced Weston again, but with a championship trophy at stake. The Nighthawks responded, earning their first SWC Conference championship in program history with a 4-3 win over Weston. In the process, they ended the Trojans' run of seven consecutive titles.

Just four days later, two of Newtown's other juggarnauts would revel in championship glory. The girls lacrosse team won its sixth straight SWC crown with a convincing 20-4 victory over New Fairfield, while the softball team defeated Lauralton Hall 4-1 for its first title in 21 years.

Both victories were a credit to months of dedication and perseverance and a symbol of dominance. The two teams combined for a 35-1 record during the regular season, which earned each the top overall seed in the state tournament.

It seemed as though no matter what obstacle both teams faced, they continually found an answer to push them ahead. Whether it be the effort of a star senior or a team-wide contribution, the result was almost always the same.

Although the baseball, boys lacrosse and girls tennis teams didn't acheive the same notoriety on the state level, each also enjoyed solid seasons.

The baseball and boys lacrosse teams, which both won the SWC title in 2009, combined to go 26-10 in the regular season. Both lost in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. The girls tennis team finished 12-3 and lost to Amity 2-5 to open the Class L tournament.

While the remarkable season ended without a state championship for any Newtown, it certainly did not erase the individual performances. Considering the success of each team, it would be hard to have asked for much more.

It was simply a remarkable season. 

Editor's note: The girls tennis team finished 12-3 and lost in the Class L tournament. An earlier version of this story identified the wrong team.