Boys Winter Swimming & Diving Sectional Championships: St. John's Prep back on top; Framingham, Grafton get historic firsts

St. John's Preparatory School set the tone for a state championship defense by ending an unusual drought in the pool, capturing the school's first North sectional championship in nearly a decade during the Sunday, February 9 meet at MIT's Zegiser Center.

Meanwhile, it was historic firsts in the pool for Framingham High School and Grafton High School. Framingham took home its first sectional title in the South at MIT, while Grafton did the same in the West/Central, which was moved up a day to Saturday, February 8 at Springfield College's Linkletter Natatorium.

North

St. John's Prep earned its first sectional championship since 2016, finishing with 284 points to edge past runner-up Wayland High School (266.5) at MIT's Zegiser Center. The Eagles, who were 2024 Division 1 state champions but finished behind Weston High School in the North, had a previous run of sectional crowns from 2006-16.

Freshman Brendan Titley keyed the championship effort for the Eagles with a pair of individual victories. Titley took home first place in the 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 42.74 seconds) and added a win in the 100 freestyle (48;12).

Another freshman, Porter Mulgrew, also picked up a first place for St. John's Prep in the 200-yard individual medley (2:00.56), as well as a second in the 500 free (4:44.78).

Junior Wes Ross was second in the 100 free (48.95) and third in the 200 free (1:45.04). Senior Matthew Church took third in the 500 free (4:49.82) and fourth in the 200 free (1:46.17).

Boston Latin School's Cal Hale was the other double winner, capturing both the 50 freestyle (21.66) and 100 breaststroke (58.91).

Wayland's runner-up finish was keyed by a sweep of the relays. In the 200 medley relay, it was senior Brady Foley, junior Alex Lu, senior Peter Morris and sophomore Luke Kroncke taking first in 1:38.61. Lu and Kroncke joined seniors Aidan Huang and Cole Snyder to take the 200 free relay (1:28.57), and the winning 400 free relay (3:18.71) was Morris, Snyder, senior Braden Leichliter and Huang.

Weston was third as a team (200), followed by Acton-Boxborough Regional (174) and Westford Academy (170).

Results     

South

Despite competing with just 12 swimmers and one diver, Framingham showcased its depth to grab the sectional championship at MIT. The Flyers finished with 200 points, just ahead of Bay State Conference rival Newton North High School in second (183).

Brandon Liu was the lone event winner for the Flyers, taking the 100 breaststroke (57.82) while also placing second in the 50 free (21.69). Framingham added a second place in the 200 medley relay (1:39.79) and a third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.36).

Will Mulgrew nearly singlehandedly led Xaverian Brothers High School to the podium, as the senior set meet records in a pair of events and was part of four individual victories for the Hawks.

McGrew won the 500 free in 4:27.84, breaking the mark that had stood since 1999, and also took down the year-old record in the 200 free (1:39.69). He also helped Xaverian to wins in the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.16) and 400 freestyle relay (3:16.51) along with senior Pierce Brausch and juniors Jack Herman and Mark Ehrenzeller.

Xaverian was third as a team (161), followed by Catholic Memorial School (148), Franklin High School (143) and Westwood High School (134).

Needham High School senior Vann Hotchkiss broke his meet record from 2024 in the diving competition, finishing with 581.85 points. Newton North senior Quinn Caputo added a meet record victory in the 200 individual medley (1:51.49).

Results      

Central/West

Grafton earned victories in two of the first three events and never looked back, outpacing Longmeadow High School and the rest of the field at Springfield College.

Seniors Breacan Shea, George Lam, Braedon Ando and Simon Turcotte swept to victory in the 200 medley relay (1:39.04) to set the opening tone for the Gators. Ando then followed two events later with an individual win in the 200 individual medley (1:54.66), and later also captured the 500 freestyle (4:39.27).

Lam helped cap the team championship for Grafton with his victory in the second-to-last event, the 100 breaststroke (59.66). The team of Lam, sophomore Luke Keenan, senior Kellan Shave and Turcotte placed third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:34.75), and Grafton also was third in the 400 free relay (3:23.47) to end the meet with Shea, Keenan, Shave and Ando.

Grafton had 258 points, followed by Longmeadow (218) in second, with Belchertown High School (199), Minnechaug Regional (147) and West Springfield High School (135) rounding out the top five. Westborough High School (132) was next, and Ludlow High School (131) a point back.

Longmeadow senior Evan Hong won the 100 free (46.67) and also helped the runner-up Lancers to victories in the 200 free relay (1:28.55) and 400 free relay (3:17.05) with seniors Ari Powers and Charles MacElhiney, and junior Ethan Halpern.

Joe Keroack of Ludlow was the meet's lone individual double winner, capturing the 200 free (1:41.61) and 100 butterfly (51.57).

Results