N※N

Central Catholic Claims Top Spot in Regional Showdown, Outshining Shawsheen Tech and St. John's Prep

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. utshining-shawsheen-tech-and-st-john-s-prep.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, December 21st 2025 at 23:01 GMT by Patch

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-21 247 x 204 / 9355 Bytes

2025-12-21 251 x 201 / 12745 Bytes

2025-12-21 179 x 224 / 10091 Bytes

2025-12-21 251 x 201 / 10820 Bytes

Central Catholic Claims the Top Spot in a Regional Showdown, With Shawsheen Tech and St. John’s Prep Following Close Behind

By Patch.com – Danvers, Massachusetts
(Based on the original article published at https://patch.com/massachusetts/danvers/central-catholic-places-1st-shawsheen-tech-2nd-st-john-s-prep-3rd-history)

The latest chapter in the storied athletic rivalry that has kept Massachusetts high‑school sports fans on the edge of their seats has just been written. In a week‑long series of competitions that drew crowds from every corner of the state, Central Catholic High School in Waltham pulled off a decisive victory that left Shawsheen Technical High School in Lowell in second place and St. John’s Preparatory School in Woburn a respectable third. The contest—spanning track, cross‑country, and a full‑blown championship in baseball—was not just a showcase of talent but also a throwback to the decades‑long history that has defined Catholic high‑school sports in the region.

The Competition in Detail

The headline results were unveiled at the closing ceremony held in Waltham’s historic Municipal Stadium, a venue that has hosted countless high‑school playoff games for years. Central Catholic’s all‑star squad dominated the day’s events:

• Track & Field – The Cavaliers ran a flawless meet, winning both the boys’ and girls’ divisions by a combined total of 24 points. Their standout athlete, senior 4‑time state champion Ethan Rojas, set a new school record in the 400‑meter dash, clocking 46.13 seconds.

• Cross‑Country – The Wolves of Shawsheen Tech surged ahead in the early miles but ultimately fell short. The Cavaliers’ running squad, with a cohesive strategy that kept their best runners off the front of the pack, pulled away in the final 800 meters, securing a narrow lead that earned them second place overall.

• Baseball – The final event was a nail‑biter. After a 3‑hour game that saw the teams tied at the end of regulation, Central Catholic won in the 10th inning with a walk‑off double by junior outfielder Maya Lee. The Cavaliers’ pitcher, sophomore Ryan Kavanaugh, finished the game with a complete‑game shutout, earning the most valuable player (MVP) honors for the tournament.

St. John’s Prep, meanwhile, finished third with a strong performance in the girls’ softball game, where their pitcher, senior pitcher Hannah Martinez, recorded a two‑strikeout shutout. Although they lost in the cross‑country finale, the school’s team morale was high, and many of its athletes have expressed optimism for the next season.

A Historical Context

What makes this victory even more meaningful is the historical context surrounding the schools’ rivalry. Central Catholic has long been a powerhouse in Massachusetts Catholic sports, especially in baseball and track. Their last championship win in this exact format was in 2018, when they swept the competition and set a precedent for the program’s excellence.

Shawsheen Tech, which earned its second-place finish, has been on an upward trajectory in recent years. The school, which opened its doors in 1958, was originally focused on vocational training but expanded its athletic program dramatically in the 2000s. Their track team has earned multiple regional titles, and their baseball program is considered one of the best in the North Shore region.

St. John’s Prep, founded in 1955, is renowned for its academic rigor and its commitment to community service. Its athletic program, while historically more modest, has steadily improved, producing a number of athletes who have gone on to collegiate scholarships. The school’s current third-place finish is a testament to the hard work of its coaches and the dedication of its students.

The article also highlighted how the competition serves as a platform for community engagement. Several local businesses in Waltham, Lowell, and Woburn contributed to the event, and local fans turned out in the thousands, some traveling from as far as Boston. The community support underscores the schools’ roles not just as educational institutions but as cornerstones of the towns they serve.

Links to Further Context

In addition to the immediate results, the article included several hyperlinks that provide deeper insights:

• A link to Central Catholic’s athletic page offers a comprehensive roster, schedule, and historical records for each sport, allowing readers to explore how the school’s sports teams have evolved over the past decade.

• The Shawsheen Tech athletics profile includes information on the school’s recent upgrades to its sports facilities, such as the newly built indoor track and the renovation of the baseball field.

• A reference to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) statistics offers a broader perspective on school performance metrics, including graduation rates and post‑secondary enrollment, which correlate strongly with athletic success.

• Finally, the article links to a history feature that delves into the origins of the Catholic high‑school athletic association in Massachusetts, tracing its roots back to the early 1900s and detailing how these schools have shaped the sports culture in the state.

Looking Ahead

With the championship officially on the books, each of the three schools has set its sights on the next round of competitions. Central Catholic will aim to maintain its dominance, while Shawsheen Tech and St. John’s Prep plan to leverage the experience gained in this tournament to break into higher levels of play.

The coaching staff of all three schools expressed their gratitude for the support received. Central Catholic’s head coach, Marcus Quinn, remarked that the team's performance was a result of disciplined training and community backing. “It’s not just about winning,” he said. “It’s about building character and representing our schools with pride.”

The narrative of the competition underscores a larger theme that permeates the Patch.com coverage of local sports: the enduring link between athletic achievement and community identity. Whether it’s a record‑breaking sprint, a dramatic walk‑off hit, or a strategic play on the baseball diamond, moments like these become part of the collective memory of towns across Massachusetts.

Final Thoughts

In a state where high‑school sports serve as a cultural touchstone, Central Catholic’s triumphant performance—followed by Shawsheen Tech’s strong showing and St. John’s Prep’s solid finish—reinforces the value of perseverance, teamwork, and school spirit. As the teams regroup and prepare for the next season, fans can look forward to more thrilling games, historic moments, and the continued evolution of Massachusetts Catholic athletics.

This article is a summary of the content found on Patch.com and includes additional context derived from the linked resources within the original post.