Prep Eagles Soar High

The 2012-13 sports season was just like every other sports season for St. John’s Prep: a success. There were multiple Division 1 state championships, several final four appearances, and many players either got drafted into professional leagues or committed to major Division 1 colleges and universities. Discipline and sportsmanship are typical of what spectators will see in a team coached at St. John’s Prep. These values are instilled in St. Johns’ athletes by teachers in the classroom and they translate to the athletic arena as well.

The St. John’s Prep football team has been to the Super Bowl twice in three years. This year they defeated Brockton in the big game by a score of 48-28. They used a steady dose of the running game this past season with their talented running back, Jonathan Thomas, who has committed to the University of Maryland. Thomas is rated as a four-star prospect who runs a 4.47 second forty yard dash. He still has a year to go at the Prep, guaranteeing them to be Super Bowl contenders for the upcoming season. Lucas Bavaro, a Dartmouth commit, has also been a strong contributor at linebacker for St. John’s. Along with leading the Catholic Conference in points scored, they also lead the league in fewest points allowed. Their overall record for this past season was 11-1.

The swimming team at the Prep won their 8th straight State Title this past season. St. John’s truly ruled the water, despite experiencing over 50% turnover from last season. Alex Swaim, a junior, dominated his competition leading the Eagles to first-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay, and the 100 butterfly. Cole Malatesta also became the first St. John’s Prep athlete to win in the diving event for the Division Title.

Some of St. Johns’ most high-profile athletes hail from the hockey team. Prep stars have been drafted into the NHL each of the past three years. In 2011, Colin Blackwell was drafted by San Jose in the seventh round. Sam Kurker was selected in the second round in 2012 by the St. Louis Blues. Kurker was the second highest Prep grad to be picked in the NHL draft behind Bobby Carpenter. Carpenter was the third overall pick in 1981 and the first U.S. born hockey player to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. Brian Pinho from this year’s squad was selected by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round. Pinho led the number-one ranked Eagles to a 17-2-2 regular season. They were an offensive juggernaut in the regular season, leading the Catholic Conference in goals with 98. Unfortunately, they were upset by Austin Prep in the State Semi-Final by a score of 2-1. Overall, it was a very productive season for a team that is at the top of the super eight division year in and year out.

The Basketball and Soccer teams at the Prep both made the state semi-finals this past year. The soccer team was ranked 4th overall in the state. They had a flawless 10-0 record on the road, demonstrating the team’s grit. They climbed up the rankings as the year went on and even overachieved, according to some writers’ preseason predictions. The Eagles’ season came to an end in a tight loss to Somerville in the state semi-final. The basketball team had a 19-3 record with the highest points per game in the conference. The basketball team lost to Central Catholic in the state semi-final in a close contest. One player to keep an eye on is Ben Judson, a guard who is entering his junior season. He is a lights-out left-handed shooter beyond the arc and has significantly improved his scoring off the dribble.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Prep baseball team, which was ranked the number one team in the state this past season. They won twenty-two straight games before their season ended with a loss in the Division 1 State Final to Billerica. After 33 seasons as the Prep varsity skipper, Pat Yanchus is set to retire. Under his leadership, Prep baseball teams have an impressive 437 wins, 11 Catholic Conference titles, six North Sectional titles, three Eastern Mass Championships, and two back-to-back state titles in 1999 and 2000. His teams have also compiled a post-season record of 55 wins and only 20 losses. Two years ago, Yanchus was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes outstanding character, longevity in coaching, activity in the association, and coaching record.

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