Eagles Swim to Sixth Straight State Title

Despite being pushed in the early going by eventual runner-up Lincoln-Sudbury, the St. John's Prep swim team captured its sixth consecutive Division One State Championship Sunday at Harvard University's Blodgett Pool. The Eagles accumulated 249 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up Lincoln-Sudbury's final total of 186.5.

The Eagles' winners included Ryan Fortin in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:55.15 and Aaron Athanas in the 100-yard backstroke (52.12) as well as the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Caleb Bower, Fortin, Jennings McCoy-Soccorso and Robert Breen (1:27.78) and the 400-yard freestyle relay quartet of Athanas, John Bateman, Peter Fallon and Breen (3:11.90).

Second-place finishers included the 200-yard medley relay unit of Athanas, Fortin, Bateman and Brendan Sweeney (1:36.16), Athanas in the 100-yard freestyle (47.78), Breen in the 500 freestyle (4:41.33) and Fortin in the 100 backstroke (57.85).

Breen (200 free, 1:43.73) and Bateman (50 free, 21.83) contributed thirds while Soccorso-McCoy was fourth in the 100 backstroke (55.30). Bateman (100 butterfly, 53.49) and Fallon (500 free, 4:46.56) finished fifth in their respective events.

Crabtree captures Division One wrestling crown

Senior 140-pounder TJ Crabtree ran his personal record to 47-0 for the season while winning his weight class at last weekend's Division One Individual State Tournament. Crabtree won two matches via pin, recorded a 22-8 decision in the semifinal, then won the title match, 9-4.

He now has 185 career wins, second all-time at the Prep behind Mike Pedro's state record 213 wins. Crabtree is seeking to become the fourth Eagle to finish an undefeated season under coach Manny Costa behind Pedro (61-0), Nathan Cote (58-0) and Ryan Malo (58-0).

“TJ wrestled poised and with confidence throughout the state tournament. He has scored bonus points in 45 of the 47 matches this season,” said Costa.

Crabtree will be joined at this weekend's two-day All-State Tournament at Salem High by Prep teammates Mike Mayo and Alex Kwmuntis. Mayo finished second at 130 pounds last weekend and now stands at 45-4 on the season. Kmuntis placed sixth to improve his record to 40-10. All-States get under way at noon on Friday.

Track sixth in Division One meet

The 4x400 relay team of Mike Galasso, Connor May, Fernando Galvez and Brandon West finished third in a time of 3:31.39 for the Eagles' best showing at last weekend's Division One State Meet at Reggie Lewis. The 4x200 squad of Nick Pesaturo, Bryan Browne, West and Joey Dumas placed eighth in 1:34.18. Sean Enos (fifth, 49-1) and Scott Sheehan (sixth, 48-10) both placed in the shot put.

Basketball finishes with a flourish

In a rematch of last year's Division One North Sectional title game, the top-ranked Eagles (19-1) concluded the regular season Wednesday night with a 72-70 win against No. 2 Central Catholic (19-2), the reigning Sectional champion. The score was tied 55-all after three periods and the fourth quarter was played at a breakneck pace. Pat Connaughton (23 points), Mike Carbone (21) and Owen Marchetti (11) all reached double figures and combined for all seven of SJP's successful three-pointers.

On Sunday, the Prep captured B.C. High's Comcast Tournament, topping the hosts, 86-73, behind Steve Haladyna's 35-point eruption. Tournament MVP Connaughton had 22 and the Eagles held BCH to 24 second-half points. St. John's pounded Andover in the semifinals, 86-69, racing out to a 30-7 lead after one quarter. Connaughton had 36 points. The Eagles now await the basketball pairings and are a likely No. 1 see in the North.

Hockey adds to Super 8 resume

The Eagles (13-5-1) continued their incendiary second half, following up Saturday's 4-1 win against Framingham with a 7-0 dismantling of Wakefield Wednesday night. The Eagles have now won eight of nine, outscoring their opponents by a 41-10 margin during that stretch.

When they hit the ice for their regular-season finale Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against Catholic Memorial, the Eagles have the opportunity to accomplish something that hasn't happened in more than a quarter century – keep CM from qualifying for the post-season. CM, which is 8-9-2 and has qualified for the 20 previous Super 8 Tournaments, must win or be eliminated from post-season consideration altogether. St. John's won the earlier meeting on Feb. 8, 4-2, and CM has gone 1-3-1 since.

Against Wakefield, senior Colin Blackwell surpassed 50 points (27-24-51) for the season with two goals and an assist. Freshman Shane Eiserman clicked for two goals and two assists, running his season totals to 18 goals and 35 points. Sam Kurker, Jon Farrow and Andrew Pierce added single tallies while Dave Letarte and Jared Hynes turned back 16 shots in the shared shutout. Against Framingham, Eiserman, Pierce, Blackwell and Kurker all had single tallies while Letarte finished with 10 saves.