As far as things you can count on in February go, the St. John’s Prep swim team winning another state championship has proven to be far more reliable than any prognostications made by a groundhog in Pennsylvania.
Behind some excellent performances in the freestyle events, the Eagles won their 19th Division 1 state title — and third in a row — Sunday at MIT’s Zesiger Pool, finishing with 193 points. In doing so, they shaded second place Westford Academy (183 points) and third place Minnechaug (181).
On Saturday, the Marblehead High girls swim team had a spectacular showing at the Division 1 state championships, finishing third overall in the field of 38 teams by accumulating 176 points, also at MIT’s Zesiger Pool.
Despite not having any first place finishers, St. John’s Prep earned points in eight of the nine individual events and all three relays. Sophomore Brendan Titley led the way with a second place finish in the 100 free (46.48) and a fourth in the 50 free (21.46). Wes Ross, a senior, added a third place in the 200 free (1:44.03) and fifth in the 500 free (4:41.33).
Depth played a part in the Eagles’ victory as well. Sophomore Declan MacDonald in the 200 IM (9th, 2:01.69) and 100 breaststroke (12th, 1:01.50); senior Ben Masterson in the 100 free (11th, 49.57) and 50 free (13th, 22.62); sophomore Tommy Macari (9th, 360.85 points) and junior Tim Ogandzhanyan (10th, 342,70), both in diving; sophomore Parker Mulgrew in the 500 free (14th, 5:02.30), Freshman Brian Desmaris in the 200 free (1:52.39), junior Eric Forsyth in the 100 fly (15th, 55.67) and sophomore Luke Berrian in the 100 breast (16th, 1:02.63) all earned points for SJP.
The Prep’s three relay teams finished second (200 free, 1:27.85), sixth (400 free, 3:17.18) and eighth (200 medley, 1:42.12).
GIRLS
Marblehead, which had its best finish in three years, saw its day highlighted by a second place finish in the 200 medley relay, where the foursome of Hazell Wright, Shaelyn Callahan, Macy Ladouceur and Winnie Waddington finished in 1:54.04, earning their team a whopping 34 points. Between the three relay events, Marblehead earned 78 points.
Individually, sophomore Grace Ladouceur was the top finisher for MHS as the junior swam to a third place finish in the 100 free in 54.31 seconds.
Marblehead also took fourth place in five different events, adding to their point total. Wright did so in both the 200 free (1:56.46) and 500 free (5:13.00), while fellow freshman Waddington followed suit in the 50 free (24.68). Grace Ladouceur added a fourth in the 200 IM (2:14.21) and was part of the fourth place 400 free relay with her freshman sister Macy, Callahan and Wright (3:44.46).
Waddington picked up additional points for the Magicians by finishing eighth in the 100 fly (1:00.84), while Callahan took 12th in the 100 breast (1:13.12) and 13th in the 500 free (5:31.93). Also, the 200 free relay team of Grace Ladouceur, junior Abigail Moore, senior Monica Peckhold and Waddington came in 10th place (1:46.80).
Marblehead’s point total trailed only Division 1 champion Concord-Carlisle (283) and second place Amherst (244).
Masconomet placed 17th overall with 50 points, with senior Kayleigh O’Brien’s third place showing in the 1 meter diving (408.30 total points) leading the way. Freshman teammate Myra Walsh was 10th in the same event (345.10 points).
Senior Brynne Curley earned 23 points for the Chieftains after claiming seventh in the 100 fly (1:00.71) and eighth in the 200 IM (2:16.41). The 400 free relay quartet of freshman Kira Smith and seniors Samantha Kaplan, Charlotte Guido and Curley also earned points with their 16th place finish (3:58.19).
A pair of fifth place finishes help Bishop Fenwick pick up 40 points and place 17th overall. Junior Sarah Shann was fifth in diving (403.30 points), while senior captain Caroline Blatchford was fifth in the 100 free (55.21) as well as seventh in the 200 free (2:00.51).
In the Division 2 State Championships, Hamilton-Wenham got both a third and fourth place showing from sophomore Zoey Ceriello-Sachetta in the 200 free (1:59.24) and 100 back (1:01.00), respectively. Swampscott, which like HW had 31 teams points, saw junior Audrey Heath take sixth in the 100 back (1:03.37) and seventh in the 200 IM (2:20.72), while senior Claire Slomski was 12th in the 200 free (2:06.66) and 16th in the 50 free (26.23). Salem freshman Aubrey Dwyer took 14th place in the 100 back (1:06.93) as well.