Prep makes it 4 straight
Lockwood helps with record 50
For the fourth straight year and the 14th time in his career, a St. John’s Prep squad coached by Anthony Padvaiskas captured the Division 1 state title.
In front of a packed house yesterday at Boston University, the Eagles took home the title with 240 points, trailed by Chelmsford with 169.5 and Natick at 147.
Said Padvaiskas, “Today was just a celebration of a great year. Our seniors did a great job of putting together a young team.”
The Eagles were led by senior Mitchell Lockwood, who won the 50-yard freestyle in a school-record 21.35 seconds and placed second in the 100 freestyle in 46.30. Lockwood also swam on two of St. John’s Prep’s three victorious relay teams, the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
“It’s awesome. Best moment of my life so far,” Lockwood said. “I’ve made states all four years, and every single year, I’ve had mentors on the team and people I’ve looked up to, and I swam for them today. To have the opportunity this year to be that person and be that mentor was awesome. I loved every single minute.”
The day’s events held an extra air of significance as the entire high school swimming community continues to mourn beloved Acton-Boxboro coach Jeff Johnson. The Acton-Boxboro boys placed 10th with key results from Hunter Whitbeck, who was fourth in diving, Alex Zhang, who placed seventh in the 100 freestyle, and the 200 freestyle relay team, who placed sixth.
“These guys have done a great job doing what they had to do today. They loved coach, we all loved coach,” Acton-Boxboro athletic director Steve Martin said.
“What I told them in our meeting beforehand is no matter what, today’s emotion and the adrenaline might take you a little bit faster or you might just be mentally exhausted, and that’s OK because you’re all state champions for jumping in the pool today.”
A moment of silence was held at the start of the meet in memory of Johnson, and the support and compassion shown by the entire field of competitors helped put Johnson’s impact on the sport in perspective.
“Coach Jeff Johnson of Acton-Boxboro was a near and dear friend to me,” Padvaiskas said. “I asked these boys to do me a great favor and just race. In the spirit of coach Jeff, they came here today and gave it everything they had. Truly, I just want to thank coach Johnson for everything he’s done for the sport of swimming in Massachusetts.”