Weston snaps drought, wins North boys swim title

MILFORD —  It’s been a nearly 20-year drought but Sunday’s MIAA North sectional boys swimming championships at Milford saw Weston finally return to the top of the podium. The Wildcats captured the North Sectional crown with 280 points, enduring a fierce challenge from perennial powerhouse St. John’s Prep, who finished second with 259 points, followed by Lincoln-Sudbury with 193.5.

The win marks Weston’s first North title since 2005 when it once again bested St. John’s Prep.

“It means a lot,” said Weston coach Jim McLaughlin on his team’s victory, “Weston’s a program that’s been great for a really long time and the fact that’s it been that long since we’ve had a sectional title shows how competitive this meet is.”

Weston began the meet with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay as sophomore Evan Hoaglund and seniors Paul Shen, Andrew Chiocca and Nyle Linnard finished with a 1:38.05. In the 200 freestyle, Theo Bodet earned a second-place finish, furthering Weston’s early advantage.

“They were really hyped up. We have phenomenal leadership and this is a team that’s really together so they wanted to do it for the seniors, they wanted to do it for each other and the fact that it’s been since 2005 since we’ve done it,” said McLaughlin.

However, thanks to a third in the 200 individual medley from Jake Thomas and a victory from Carter Randall in Thursday’s 1-meter diving with a score of 494.10, St. John’s Prep built a 38-point lead over Weston through five events.

Bodet punched back for Weston, with a victory in the 100 butterfly (52.26), but a 2-3 finish from Teddy Batmaca and Tyler Bosma in the 500 free kept the Eagles in first through eight events.

Weston finally seized the lead for good in the 200 free relay thanks to a second from the team of Shen, Max Nelson, Bodet and Linnard.  A victory for Shen in the 100 yard Breaststroke (59.98) and a second in the final event, the 400 free relay, ensured the North crown was finally be returning to Weston.

“I knew we had a really good relay at the end. We had four really great swimmers on there,” said McLaughlin “I think they knew what was on the line. These guys every time you ask them to go and ask them to compete, they do something that absolutely blows my mind.”

The sectional victory caps off a remarkable weekend for McLaughlin, whose son Shaun took home a Central-West sectional title in wrestling for Natick on Saturday, winning the 126-pound weight class.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/6ND8prA