ANTONIO ANASTASIADES took home first place in the 100 breaststroke for the Lynnfield/Wakefield co-op swim team at states last weekend at Boston University. Anastasiades broke his own record in the event, winning the state championship for the second consecutive year. (Courtesy Photo)
Published in the February 18, 2020 edition.
BOSTON — Wakefield High’s Antonio Anastasiades competed at states on Sunday at Boston University for the Lynnfield/Wakefield boys’ co-op swim team.
The Warrior senior competed in two events, getting first in one of them for his second straight state championship.
Anastasiades was seeded second in the 100 breaststroke. He won the event by breaking his own school record with a state-championship winning time of 57.59. He also won the 100 breaststroke last year.
“Antonio cemented his legacy in our program’s history as the best we’ve ever had,” said head coach Jeff Boyd. “We’ve had some great ones, including his brother Chris and the great Jeff Cook. But nobody has ever won back-to-back state championships. He’s our G.O.A.T.”
Anastasiades also finished 2nd in the 200 IM with a season-best time of 1:56.19. He was seeded third in the event.
Aaron Zhu of Chelmsford won the 200 IM, and finished second in the 100 breaststroke. It was a head-to-head battle in both events which they split. The 200 IM was first followed by the 100 breaststroke.
“After coming up short in the 200 IM, I was a little worried about how he’d respond in the 100 breast, especially since he was going up against the guy who beat him earlier,” said Boyd. “I knew from his first pull off the start that there was no way he was going to lose. He’s the best competitor I’ve ever coached.”
It was certainly a great way to end a terrific career. The victory also meant a lot to Boyd who returned to the sidelines this season after taking two years off and got the opportunity to coach his former student at the Galvin Middle School.
“I’ve known Antonio since he was a 6th grade student in my English class years ago,” said Boyd. “I would have never imagined we would be celebrating a state championship together six years later. He inspired me to return to coaching this team. Tonight, I think we’re both pretty happy things worked out the way they did.
“When it was all over and we were packing up, we shared a special moment. He’s such a great kid and I’m so proud of him. This is the end of the road for him with high school swimming and he finished on top.”
