The Conard boys swimming and diving team defeated Newington at Cornerstone Aquatics Center in West Hartford on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Submitted

Conard swimming and diving came into Friday’s meet short handed and hungry for their first win of the season against Newington. Despite having only eight swimmers competing, the Red Wolves took an early lead and slowly built on it, ultimately defeating the Nor’easters 80-79.

The meet kicked off with the 200 Medley Relay where the Conard team of Luke Scheinfeldt, Connor Faga, Malachy McDonald, and Matthew Robinson taking first place and 8 points to Newington’s 4. In the 200 Freestyle Colby Dainiak and Kian Abolfath teamed up for a 1-3 finish and 9 points, while Newington’s Oliver Lukin finished second.

Conard vs. Newington boys swimming and diving. Jan. 16, 2026. Photo credit: Rosie Alonzo

Faga and McDonald returned to the pool for the 200 Individual Medley where Faga notched his first individual win of the day and McDonald took fourth place points to add 8 more to the Red Wolves’ score.

In what proved to be the most exciting event or the day, Conard’s Phin Izikson and Newington’s Nathan Lu tied for first, while Robinson rounded out the top three in the event, bringing the score to 33-26 at the break for diving.

Newington’s Matthew Cook was the only diver on the board that afternoon, scoring an uncontested 6 points for the Nor’easters and pushing them to a score of 33-32 and back into striking distance of the Red Wolves.

Conard answered back immediately in the 100 Butterfly where Dainiak and Abolfath teamed up for a second time and second 1-3 finish, securing 9 points to Newington’s 4. Faga secured his second individual win of the day in the 100 Freestyle while teammate Nick Rheaume took third.

Conard vs. Newington boys swimming and diving. Jan. 16, 2026. Photo credit: Rosie Alonzo

In the 500 Freestyle Scheinfeldt cruised to a first place finish ahead of Lukin while McDonald wrapped up third. With four events to go Conard was up 60-49

The Nor’easters shocked the Red Wolves in the 200 Freestyle Relay by taking first and third place and 10 points, closing the gap to 5 points. Scheinfeldt and Robinson’s 1-2 finish in the 100 Backstroke gave the Red Wolves 10 points back, leaving them needing only 6 more points to put the meet out of reach.

Izikson was involved in his second neck-and-neck race of the day in the 100 Breaststroke where he was locked in with Newington’s Gerick Napuli and Lu for the entire race. Napuli finished first, but Izikson grabbed second while Lu took third and Rheaume rounded out the points for the event in fourth, giving Conard the final 6 points they needed to put the meet out of reach for the Nor’easters.

Conard is now 1-3 and will take on their first CCC West opponent Southington on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Southington YMCA.

Conard vs. Newington boys swimming and diving. Jan. 16, 2026. Photo credit: Rosie Alonzo

In addition to the win the following Conard swimmers are qualified for the state tournament (all previous qualifiers also included):

• Colby Dainiak – 200 Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke
• Matt Krol – 200 Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke
• Luke Scheinfeldt – 200 Individual Medley, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke
• Connor Faga – 200 Individual Medley, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke
• Phin Izikson – 200 Individual Medley, 500 Freestyle

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.