Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Eoin Cavanaugh ’27 wanted a medal. He got it. Check that – he earned it.

Eoin placed third in the 100-yard backstroke at the New England Prep School Athletic Council Swimming & Diving Division III Championships at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, on March 8.

A five-year swimmer for the Titans, it was the first time Eoin placed in the top three at the season finale.

“My goal heading into the championship was to medal,” said Eoin, whose previous best finish at the championship was sixth. “After looking at the heat sheet and the seedings, I knew what time I needed to swim. Time was less important to me. This meet, all I really wanted was to medal.”

The event had a preliminary round as well, which can be tricky in regard to strategy. A conservative pace landed him the third seed headed into the final. He was so locked in moments prior to the starting gun for the final that he didn’t recall his name being announced.

However, from the moment he hit the pool, he was ready.

“The race went out fast,” Eoin explained. “(The) backstroke is unique as you do not know where anyone else is as you are facing backwards. For this reason, you have to trust yourself and when you start to hurt you have to go faster and push through. I finished and looked up at the board and saw the ‘3’ next to my name and was just happy.”

Eoin’s time was one minute, 2.76 seconds. 

“It felt good to get third at champs as it felt like all the hard work had finally paid off,” he added. “It also makes me excited for the future and how I hope I will continue to perform in future races.”