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CANTON — Patrick McHugh had the state championship medal in his pocket and doughnuts on his mind — Schuler's chocolate Bismarck doughnuts to be precise.

A bigger celebration could wait. McHugh wanted to satisfy a more immediate craving when he returned to Springfield.

"Oh gosh, yeah!" he said.

The Catholic Central senior swam to a Division II state championship Saturday, Feb. 28, in the 100-yard backstroke at the Branin Natatorium. His time of 50.78 seconds is a D-II state record because this is the first year the state boys meet has split into two divisions.

McHugh said he barely slept Friday night after turning in the fastest preliminary time, a personal-best 51.14. He stared at the ceiling half the night, thinking, "Tomorrow's the big day."

Then he made the day his. McHugh, fifth in state in 2008, won the race in .12 seconds over Canfield's Ryan King.

"It's just surreal," McHugh said. "For years now really, it's what I've been working for."

"Halfway down the first lap, I said, 'It's over. Nobody's going to catch him,'" Central coach Steve Neely said. "He was very focused. Pat is a very cerebral swimmer. He really thinks thing through. He analyzes and sometimes over-analyzes things. I wasn't hearing any of that today at all. He just let all those years of training, all those laps, all those turns, take over."