Wayland boys' swimming makes a huge splash in snapping Weston's streak of Division 2 dominance
With a time of 3:16.29 in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Warriors not only won the event and the state title in one fell swoop, but did so in record fashion, setting a program mark in the process.
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With a lineup of Peter Morris, Cole Snyder, Braden Leichliter, and Aidan Huang, Wayland claimed the Division 2 trophy with 296 points, but had something extra to boast about over Weston (243) and third-place Mystic Valley (180).
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'It means everything to us,' Huang said. 'Every single year, we see Weston getting in the pool. And every single time, we thought we had a chance. This is the first time we, the seniors, have been in the pool at the end.'
The seniors Huang referred to were himself, Snyder, and Brady Foley, the coach's son.
After jumping in the pool with his dad, now an eight-time Division 2 champion, and hoisting the trophy above the surface, Brady said Wayland's swim and dive team would remain a brotherhood for life — even if they didn't win a title.
'I've been brothers with all these guys since freshman year, and we've always, every single year, thought we had a little chance,' Brady said. 'And this year, it was just different. It was special. And we can finally get to enjoy this moment.'
Wayland took first in all three relays: 200 medley (1:37.02), 200 freestyle (1:27.97), and the record-setting 400 freestyle (3:16.29).
Other record-breaking performances included Seekonk's Nicholas Cavic, whose victory in the 200 freestyle (1:38.30) bettered by almost a second Eric Nilsson's tournament record (1:39.27) set in 2007.
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After the tournament, Wayland's swimmers and divers were ecstatic about making one last stop on their itinerary.
'Raising Cane's!' Snyder said. 'We're going to Raising Cane's across the street.'
Grafton's Braedon Ando was victorious in the 500-yard freestyle.
JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
Weston's Spencer Dobson competes in the 500 free.
JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
Longmeadow's Evan Hong won the 100-yard butterfly at BU.
JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
MIAA Division 2 Championship
at Boston University
200 medley relay — 1. Wayland, 1:37.02; 2. Weston, 1:37.12; 3. Grafton, 1:37.57.
200 freestyle — 1. Nicholas Cavic, Seekonk, 1:38.3; 2. Joseph Keroack, Ludlow, 1:43.6; 3. Evan Hong, Longmeadow, 1:44.85.
200 IM — 1. Braedon Ando, Grafton, 1:52.45; 2. Grant Dwyer, Salem, 1:54.29; 3. Christian Antonucci, Mystic Valley, 1:58.
50 freestyle — 1. Nicholas Cavic, Somerset Berkley, 0:20.85; 2. Alex Jylkka, Weston, 0:21.43; 3. Logan Doody, Marblehead, 0:21.97; 3. Ryan Shea, Belchertown, 0:21.97.
Diving — 1. Collin Purcell, Minnechaug, 522.050 points; 2. Sean Leahy, Dedham, 487.650; 3. Landen Boutilier, Masconomet, 448.900.
100 butterfly — 1. Evan Hong, Longmeadow, 0:50.33; 2. David Sapozhnikov, Medfield, 0:51.61; 3. Joseph Keroack, Ludlow, 0:51.8.
100 freestyle — 1. Alex Jylkka, Weston, 0:47.66; 2. Jake Johnson, Nantucket, 0:48.47; 3. Sam Fernandez, Whitman-Hanson, 0:48.61.
500 freestyle — 1. Braedon Ando, Grafton, 4:30.05; 2. Grant Dwyer, Salem, 4:42.56; 3. Josh Adler, Triton, 4:51.97.
200 freestyle relay — 1. Wayland, 1:27.97; 2. Weston, 1:28.69; 3. Medfield, 1:31.42.
100 backstroke — 1. Dawson Rice, Minnechaug, 0:51.18; 2. Sean Boothroyd, Chelmsford, 0:52.78; 3. Sam Fernandez, Whitman-Hanson, 0:53.13.
100 breaststroke — 1. George Lam, Grafton, 0:59.04; 2. David Ryu, Wayland, 0:59.19; 3. Christian Antonucci, Mystic Valley, 0:59.3.
400 freestyle relay — 1. Wayland, 3:16.29; 2. Grafton, 3:16.49; 3. Longmeadow, 3:17.4.
Team results — 1. Wayland, 296; 2. Weston, 243; 3. Mystic Valley, 180; 4. Grafton, 169; 5. Longmeadow, 144; 6. Belchertown, 105.5; 7. Marblehead, 98.5; 8. Medford, 90; 9. Minnechaug, 78; 10. Holliston, 69.
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