THE DANVERS-LYNNFIELD co-op gymnastics team is coming off a terrific season in which they finished 2nd in the state (pictured). The Falcons kicked off this season with a win over Bishop Fenwick on Dec. 27. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
DANVERS — Last season was an outstanding one for the Danvers-Lynnfield-North Reading High co-op gymnastics team as they finished second in the state final only behind Masconomet, who won their fourth-state state crown.
The Chieftains were also the only team to defeat the Falcons in the regular season as the Falcons finished at 8-1 in the NEC-CAL to end up in second place.
This season it is just a two-school co-op as North Reading has dropped out after 11 years.
No girls graduated from last year’s team but six members didn’t come back due to transfers, cheerleading or going to private gymnastics clubs.
The captain this season is junior Maddie Wescott who will be a captain for the second year in a row. The Danvers resident is a two-time CAL-NEC All-Star.
The lone senior back is Kailyn Richards (Danvers).
Lynnfield’s Camryn Donovan is the only junior back and she was a league all-star in the floor exercise.
The two sophomores returning are Danvers residents DeAnna Figueiredo and Ollie Marshall.
Hannah Moccia and Kaylee Wescott, who are both from Danvers, are the two freshmen back as they were on the team as 8th-graders last winter.
Kaylee Wescott was also an All-Star last year on the floor exercise.
Four new freshmen are Lynnfield residents, Callie Donovan, Sophia Catinazzo, Anna Gorman and Madison Solan.
The team manager is also from Lynnfield and that is junior Olivia Sieve.
“We have a lot of talent this year and I am looking forward to how we will do,” said 9th-year head coach Jen Habeeb.
On Dec. 27, the Falcons opened the season with a 145.4- 127.5 win over guest Bishop Fenwick at Yellow Jackets in Peabody.
“It was a great starting point for us,” said Habeeb. “Overall, I was happy with the performance but we still have a lot to work on.”
Kaylee Wescott won the all-around with a score of 38.6. She was first on the floor (9.7), vault (9.75) and balance beam (9.65). She came in second on the bars (9.5).
Camryn Donvovan was second in the all-round at 37.75. She was first on the bars (9.55), and second in the vault (9.5), beam (9.4) and floor (9.3).
Callie Donovan had a pair of third-place finishes in the vault (9.35) and on the floor (9.0).
The Falcons (Danvers is the host school) will look to go to 2-0 on Jan. 6 as they host Peabody at 6 p.m. at Yellow Jackets.