Nighthawks Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Newtown High School

Sports run deep in Newtown, and Newtown High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Nighthawks uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Newtown High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

Caitlyn Jenner – Olympic Gold Medalist

Caitlyn Jenner competed in multiple sports during her time at Newtown High School before accepting a football scholarship to Graceland College, later switching to track and field after a knee injury. Jenner won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, setting a world record. She went on to become a high-profile reality television personality and one of the most prominent transgender advocates after publicly coming out in 2015. (Source: Brittanica)

Marcus Tracy – All-American & Major League Soccer Player

Marcus Tracy starred at Newtown High School as an All-American soccer player, with his #3 jersey retired after leading his team to a state championship. He went on to play at Wake Forest University, where he won the 2007 NCAA title and was named the 2008 Hermann Trophy winner as the nation’s top college player. He later played professionally in Denmark and Major League Soccer. (Source: Wake Forest Athletics)

Cyleigh Wilson – NCAA College Basketball Standout

Newtown High School grad and basketball player Cyleigh Wilson went on to a standout collegiate career at Elizabethtown College, where she set multiple school and Landmark Conference records for three-point shooting and finished with over 1,000 career points. A two-time captain, she ranked among the nation’s best in Division III three-point percentage and continues her basketball journey as an aspiring coach. (Sources: Elizabethtown College Athletics; CT Insider)

Ben Mason – NFL Fullback

Ben Mason was a standout football player at Newtown and earned Connecticut Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors. He went on to play at the University of Michigan and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He has since spent his career with other NFL teams, including a stint on the New England Patriots' practice squad. (Source: Ravenswire)

JT Lewis – Walk-On Football Player

Joseph Theodore “JT” Lewis graduated from Newtown High School in 2018 and walked on as a kicker for the University of Connecticut football team while majoring in political science. He is also known nationally as a school safety and victim-rights advocate, founding charitable efforts following the loss of his younger brother in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. (Source: Washington Post)

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