CAMBRIDGE — Profitable the Div. 1 state championship is greater than only a objective initially of the season for the St. John’s Prep’s boys swimming and diving program.
This system entered Sunday’s championship meet because the two-time reigning champions and had gained 15 of the final 17 titles. Regardless of having no particular person winners, the sturdy depth on the roster helped the Eagles rating 193 factors to clinch a three-peat and proceed their dynasty.
“We didn’t have any particular person winners, we simply had depth in the suitable locations,” Eagles head coach Jeff Fiore mentioned. “That’s how we’ve managed to win as many as we have now. That’s how we do it.”
St. John’s Prep solely had one second-place end, which went to the 200 freestyle relay, as an alternative counting on filling up the leaderboards with a number of swimmers or divers incomes factors in occasions. The Eagles registered factors in 11 of the 12 occasions, together with two divers incomes an important 16 factors that pushed them excessive.
“We owe a ton to our divers in the present day, they actually gained the meet for us,” Fiore mentioned. “Earlier than these scores kicked in, it wasn’t in our favor. It’s additionally these guys who’re towards the underside or exterior of the scoring who confirmed up, had a giant swim on the suitable day and scored us some factors.”
Senior Wes Ross a key contributor for the Eagles, completed third within the 200 freestyle and fifth within the 500 freestyle whereas including a second-place end within the 200 freestyle relay and a sixth-place end within the 400 freestyle relay.
General, he helped contribute to 90 factors and mentioned the staff was conscious that it might take everybody chipping in so as to add to the trophy case once more.
“It undoubtedly wasn’t a positive factor,” Ross mentioned. “It most likely took till January to determine the place everyone suits in and the place everyone does good in getting motivated. It undoubtedly took some work so as to work out find out how to lead this staff.”
Westford Academy completed second within the meet with 183 factors whereas Minnechaug completed third with 181 factors. Westford Academy’s Aiden Gouldson had notable particular person success, successful the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and contributing to a first-place end within the 200 medley relay and a second-place end within the 400 freestyle relay.
Nonetheless, the depth of St. John’s Prep couldn’t be matched and that led it to the victory and a celebratory soar into the pool with the trophy that has turn out to be a famous custom for this system.
Senior captain Ben Masterson, who was additionally on the 200 freestyle relay and helped contribute 66 factors to the board, mirrored on the victory and mentioned it was a terrific strategy to cap his highschool profession.
“I like these guys, these are my brothers,” Masterson mentioned. “I’m simply so grateful and so completely happy that I might finish my profession with these guys right here. I wouldn’t select anyone else. That is the proper ending for me.”
