It led to a dominant first-place finish. Wellesley captured the Division 2 crown for the fourth year in a row with 384 points, besting North Andover (225) and Belmont (200) at Boston University.
"For some of them it's their first meet, for some of them it's their first time winning four in a row," said Wellesley coach Doug Curtin. "Everybody has a first something, and we had a blast."
Wellesley established an early advantage with a win in the meet-opening 200-yard medley relay (1:53.95). That was the tone-setter for the Raiders, who never looked back.
As was the case at sectionals, the Raiders' depth was the key to success. Wellesley brought 16 swimmers to the meet, and the team placed at least fifth in every event.
"Even when we're not winning events, we're grabbing a huge amount of points every single event because of our depth," Curtin said.
The sister duo of freshman Serena Loo and senior Alexandra Loo led the way. Serena won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.29) and placed third in the 200 individual medley (2:13.81), and Alexandra finished second in the 100 free (55.23) and third in the 50 free (25.20). The pair also teamed up on the first-place 200 medley relay, which also featured seniors Tracey Peng and Audrey Sau.
"It's awesome," Alexandra Loo said of swimming with her sister. "We're the little Loo duo. It's so cute."
Sophomores Noor Abdelal and Isla Amuan paced runner-up North Andover, with both swimmers emerging as double winners.
Amuan won gold in the 50 free (24.54) and 100 free (53.46), and Abdelal triumphed in the 200 free (1:58.06) and 500 free (5:12.41). Both swimmers also contributed to the Scarlet Knights' winning 200 free relay (1:42.01).
Notre Dame-Tyngsborough's Mackenzie Gibbons was the other individual double winner on the girls' side, earning titles in the 100 butterfly (57.18) and 100 backstroke (57.64).
Milton captured the boys' title with 248 points, topping North Andover (107) and Walpole (96). Senior Jackson Wagner led the way for the Wildcats, notching individual wins -- and meet records -- in the 50 free (21.60) and 100 butterfly (52.12).
50 freestyle -- 1. Jackson Wagner, Milton, 0:21.6; 2. Ryan Kelly, Milton, 0:22.76; 3. Leo Ferrucci, North Andover, 0:23.05.
100 butterfly -- 1. Jackson Wagner, Milton, 0:52.12; 2. Peter Hong, Billerica, 0:57.03; 3. Carter Beauchesne, Notre Dame (Tyngsborough), 0:57.1.
100 freestyle -- 1. Ryan Kelly, Milton, 0:49.8; 2. Avneesh Shenoy, Walpole, 0:52.12.
200 freestyle relay -- 1. Milton, 1:46.15.
100 backstroke -- 1. Jack Ventre, North Andover, 0:53.34; 2. Avneesh Shenoy, Walpole, 0:58.61.
100 breaststroke -- 1. Peter Hong, Billerica, 1:02.21; 2. Leo Ferrucci, North Andover, 1:03.18; 3. Colby Moskos, Milton, 1:05.31.
400 freestyle relay -- 1. Milton, 3:27.78; 2. Braintree, 3:41.41.
Team results -- 1. Milton, 248; 2. North Andover, 107; 3. Walpole, 96; 4. Braintree, 66; 5. Billerica, 63; 6. Notre Dame (Tyngsborough), 30; 7. Weymouth, 28.
200 freestyle -- 1. Noor Abdelal, North Andover, 1:58.06; 2. Katie Sandock, Natick, 1:58.99; 3. Sonja Tellander, Wellesley, 2:03.69.
200 IM -- 1. Laila Paulsen, Reading, 2:09.82; 2. Allison Boynton, Milton, 2:10.73; 3. Serena Loo, Wellesley, 3:13.81.
50 freestyle -- 1. Isla Amuan, North Andover, 0:24.54; 2. Reese Paulsen, Reading, 0:25.16; 3. Alexandra Loo, Wellesley, 0:25.2.
Diving -- 1. Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald, Belmont, 493.450 points; 2. Sarah Ginsberg, Wellesley, 394.100; 3. Anya Buyea, North Andover, 393.650.
100 butterfly -- 1. Mackenzie Gibbons, Notre Dame (Tyngsborough), 0:57.18; 2. Allison Boynton, Milton, 0:59.49; 3. Allie DeGray, Wakefield, 1:02.51.
100 freestyle -- 1. Isla Amuan, North Andover, 0:53.46; 2. Alexandra Loo, Wellesley, 0:55.23; 3. Nora Williamson, Chelmsford, 0:55.29.
500 freestyle -- 1. Noor Abdelal, North Andover, 5:12.41; 2. Katie Sandock, Natick, 5:28.88; 3. Mai Pho, Chelmsford, 5:32.6.
200 freestyle relay -- 1. North Andover, 1:42.01; 2. Wellesley, 1:42.93; 3. Reading, 1:44.14.
100 backstroke -- 1. Mackenzie Gibbons, Notre Dame (Tyngsborough), 0:57.64; 2. Elsa Mustin, Weymouth, 1:01.86; 3. Charlotte Taieb, Boston Latin, 1:02.16.
100 breaststroke -- 1. Serena Loo, Wellesley, 1:07.29; 2. Laila Paulsen, Reading, 1:08.22; 3. Sam Noble, Weymouth, 1:08.6.
400 freestyle relay -- 1. North Andover, 3:42.57; 2. Wellesley, 3:50.51; 3. Chelmsford, 3:53.