Wet Wayland repeat
Warriors use depth to top competition
DIV. 2 BOYS SWIMMING
It’s one thing to end a five-year dynasty. It’s another to come back the next year and repeat as champions.
Wayland did just that yesterday at the Boston University Aquatics Center, winning another Division 2 boys swimming state title with 341.5 points. Longmeadow (220) and Westboro (196) rounded out the top three.
“They always say winning one is easy, winning two is the hard part.” said a drenched Wayland coach Mike Foley, fresh from a victory lap. “We had to work really hard this season to make this come together. I’m just so happy for these seniors to wrap up their career winning every meet this season. They have unbelievable, great, positive leadership attitudes. They want to win for the team. That’s how they’ve been since Day 1 as freshmen.”
Said senior Sean Devlin: “It starts with the coaches. The one thing that’s always constant on this team is the coaches. That’s why you’ve seen so many state titles, girls and boys, in the past few years for Wayland. It’s because of the coaches. They’re like family.”
The Warriors started the day with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Daniel Nee, Jiming Xu, Devlin and Asa Greenaway took first with a 1:35.76, topping Westboro and Northampton.
In the 50 freestyle, Wayland firmly established its lead by placing four swimmers in the top six — with Devlin (20.98) and Greenaway (21.47) taking the top two spots.
“It’s great to have that one-two punch in the 50,” Greenaway said. “Sean’s so fast. I just try to keep up with him.”
Devlin followed up that victory with a win in the 100 butterfly in 51.51. The Warriors senior was the defending champion in both races entering the meet.
Other highlights included a meet record by Old Rochester’s Marc Bourgeois in the 100 breaststroke (57.49), and he also placed first in the 200 freestyle with a 1:43.18. Tyler Roethke from Nantucket won the 100 free with an impressive 47.45, and Weston’s Dale Nickerson dominated the diving, posting 571.25 points.
Benjamin Laclair and Nick Whitcomb earned two first place finishes. Laclair, a senior from Belchertown, won the 200 freestyle (1:39.61) and the 500 freestyle (4:36.66), defeating Manchester Essex senior Coleman Komishane in both races. Meanwhile, Whitcomb, a senior from Northampton, topped the field in the 200 individual medley (1:54.19) and the 100 backstroke (49.85).