St. John’s Prep showed what championship programs are made of Saturday night at Boston University, when the Eagles recaptured the Division 1 boys’ state swimming championship with 287 points, barely overtaking defending champion Westford (266).

The Prep’s journey back to the top started the day after the Grey Ghosts upset them in the state championships last year.

“We address it the next day last year and these kids have been working on it since then,’’ coach Tony Padvaiskas said. “Their character, we talk about it every single day, character is what’s important. Swimming fast is a by product of who you are.’’

Senior Joseph Turk led the way for the Eagles taking home two individual titles in the 200 yard IM (1:49.13) and setting a meet record in the 500 freestyle (4:36.40).

The Eagles senior captain gave all the credit to the guys around him.

“There was no one person on this team who contributed more than anyone else,’’ Turk said. “It was a complete team effort and the best team effort that I’ve ever been a part of.’’

The Eagles got a boost from freshman diver Ben Blizzard who took first (610.35) and top five finishes in the 200 medley relay (1:36.20), the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.02), and the 100 backstroke (sophomore Oliver Zmetrovich).

After the results were finalized, Padvaiskas had his senior swimmers huddle around him and delivered the final message to his championship team.

“This senior group has really impressed me,’’ Padvaiskas told his group. “From day one have done it right, had the most integrity in your character and I couldn’t be more proud.’’

Turk and fellow senior captain Jake Rhodes leapt into the pool, state trophy in hand as the Eagle faithful serenaded the newly crowned champions of the pool.

“This feels excellent, I couldn’t imagine a better feeling,’’ Jake Rhodes said. “I know that in my entire life I’ll never know a better feeling than this.’’

For the St. John’s Prep Eagles, it feels good to be king again.

A-B junior Corben Miles broke his own state record in the 50 freestyle (20.30) while also winning the 100 free (45.15). Westford’s Jason Jung won the 200 free. Central Catholic had two individual winners in Will Pannos in the 100 fly and Drew Carbone in the 100 back.

Division 2 — Claude Valle and Mike Foley stood inches apart, watching the final relay in Saturday’s Division 2 boys’ state championships at Boston University.

In the end, it was a mere 9 points that separated the squads of the longtime friends and coaches. Valle’s Weston team captured its fifth consecutive state title, edging Foley’s Wayland squad, 215 points to 206.

Norwell rounded out the top three by posting a score of 202.

“We were behind the whole event,’’ Valle said after Weston hoisted the trophy. “Our divers played a key role.’’

Northampton senior Johnny Williams broke the state’s longest standing record with a 49.03 finish in the 100 butterfly. Williams broke the record of South Hadley’s Bob Hagberg, who posted a 49.14 in 1976.

Norwell jumped out to an early lead by winning the opening event, the 200-medley relay. The Clippers edged Williams and Northampton with a 1:37.06 finish.

Weston and Wayland slowly chipped away, with strong performances all around. It was the diving that ultimately made the difference, as three Weston boys placed.

“The big points came down to us,’’ said Weston freshman Dale Nickerson, who finished third. “There are a lot of expectations, but we can meet them and we keep pushing them.’’

The Wildcats added to their lead in the final event, the 400-yard free relay. Although Norwell’s four-man team won the event, Weston finished in fourth, two spots ahead of Wayland. Those points were the icing on the cake.

“I’m very proud of the kids today. It was a total team effort; it took every kid there to do the job,’’ Valle said.

A handful of swimmers ended the day with multiple state titles to their names. Norwell’s team of Henry Mooers, Auston Ramsay, Alessandro Rastelli, and Will Rinne claimed gold in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Canton junior Sebastian Melendez won both the 200 and 500 freestyle. Duxbury junior Nat Davenport was victorious in the 50 and 100 free, and swam the opening leg for the Dragons’ winning 200 free relay.

MIAA Boys’ State Championship

at Boston University

DIVISION 2

50 free — 1. Nat Davenport, Duxbury, 21.14; 2. Roger Gu, Ashland, 21.36; 3. Christian Kinnon, Mystic Valley, 21.61.

100 butterfly — 1. Johnny Williams, Northampton, 49.03; 2. Alessandro Rastelli, Norwell, 51.22; 3. Jared Wong, Weston, 51.83.

100 freestyle — 1. Nat Davenport, Duxbury, 46.34; 2. Auston Ramsay, Norwell, 46.86; 3. Roger Gu, Ashland, 46.99.

100 backstroke — 1. Nick Whitcomb, Northampton, 51.71; 2. Auston Ramsay, Norwell, 51.74; 3. Austin Critchlow, Weston, 52.40.

100 breaststroke — 1. Christian Kinnon, Mystic Valley, 58.78; 2. Matthew Quinney, Belchertown, 59.09; 3. Nick Diebold, Weston, 1:00.19.

200 freestyle — 1. Sebastian Melendez, Canton, 1:41.99; 2. Benjamin Laclair, Belchertown, 1.43.74; 3. Devon Major, Renaissance School, 1:44.55.

200 IM — 1. Matthew Quinney, Belchertown, 1:56.02; 2. Will Rinne, Norwell, 1:56.98; 3. Nick Antonellis, Milford, 1:57.01.

500 freestyle — 1. Sebastian Melendez, Canton, 4:41.58; 2. Benjamin Laclair, Belchertown, 4:42.20; Devon Major, Renaissance School, 4:47.64.

Diving — 1. Connor Pennington, Monson, 603.90; 2. Mike Chirico, Dover-Sherborn, 599.60; 3. Dale Nickerson, Weston, 521.65.

200 medley relay —1. Norwell, 1:37.06; 2. Northampton, 1:37.30; 3. Belchertown, 1:38.04.

200 free relay —1. Duxbury, 1:28.42; 2. Wayland, 1:28.71; 3. Mystic Valley, 1:29.75.

400 free relay — 1. Norwell, 3:12.06; 2. Northampton, 3:16.01; 3. Belchertown, 3:16.31.

Team scores — 1. Weston, 215; 2. Wayland, 206; 3. Norwell, 202; 4. Belchertown, 174; 5. Northampton, 148.

DIVISION 1

50 free — 1. Corben Miles, Acton-Boxboro, 20.30; 2. Jack Koravos, Westford, 21.20; 3. David Cote, Chelmsford, 21.39.

100 butterfly — 1. Will Pannos, Central Catholic, 50.41; 2. Jack Koravos, Westford, 50.61; 3. Michael Levin, Brookline, 52.12.

100 free — 1. Corben Miles, Acton-Boxboro, 45.15; 2. Jason Jung, Westford, 45.58; 3. David Cote, Chelmsford, 47.32.

100 backstroke — 1. Drew Carbone, Central Catholic, 50.54; 2. River Wright, Attleboro, 52.31, Jeffrey Yao, Westford, 52.32.

100 breaststroke — 1. Eric Shi, Andover, 56.76; 2. Dylon Willis, Attleboro, 58.85; 3. Will Pannos, Central Catholic, 58.93.

200 freestyle — 1. Jason Jung, Westford, 1:40.50; 2. Kyle Pilachowski, Westford, 1:42.14; 3. Kevin Spear, Reading, 1:43.40.

200 IM — 1. Joseph Turk, St. John’s Prep, 1:49.13; 2. Drew Carbone, Central Catholic, 1:52.58; 3. Eric Shi, Andover, 1: 54.16.

500 freestyle — 1. Joseph Turk, St. John’s Prep, 4:36.40; 2. Adi Arifovic, Andover, 4:40.54; 3. Kyle Pilachowski, Westford, 4:41.17.

Diving- 1. Ben Blizzard, St. John’s Prep, 610.35; 2. Kyle Kennedy, Bridgewater-Raynham, 574.95; 3. Zachary Vogel, Oliver Ames, 394.75.

200 free relay — 1. Westford, 1:25.15; 2. Acton-Boxboro, 1:26.70; 3. St. John’s Prep, 1:29.02.

200 medley relay — 1. Acton-Boxboro 1:35.54; 2.St. John’s Prep 1:36.20; 3. Central Catholic 1:36.82.

400 free relay- 1. Westford, 3:07.83; 2. Andover, 3:14.97; 3. Acton-Boxboro, 3:15.43.

Team results — 1. St. John’s Prep, 287; 2. Westford Academy, 266; 3. Acton-Boxboro, 250.