Wins over Reading, C. Catholic show success
After press time:
Melrose defeats Burlington 87-75 (Jan. 16)
Melrose falls to Arlington 52-40 (Jan. 13)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MALDEN—If there is one unsung hero of the MHS winter sport season, you could argue that honor goes to the upstart Melrose High “Stonerose” boy’s swim team who have boatloads of talent and are compiling a very strong start to their 2025 season, a 3-2 record after beating historically strong “large” teams including Winchester and in more recent efforts, Reading and Central Catholic.
It was an exciting second win of the season for Melrose when they beat the Reading Rockets by a score of 94-76 on January 7 at home at Malden High. A highlight was some big wins in the 200IM and 50 free.
“Reading was a strong opponent who kept it close throughout the meet,” says Melrose head coach Alex Pennachio. “We scored a lot of 1st place finishes but they had a lot of depth. Our wins in the 200IM and the 50 free really helped us jump ahead early in the meet.”
Those wins were achieved by Danny Mirick (200) and Jos Baranyi (50). But Melrose also earned several other first place finishes including Owen Molway in the 100 fly, Jos Baranyi in the 100 free, Danny Mirick in the 100 back and the relay team of Jos Baranyi, Will Lowe, Gabe Hunnicutt and Danny Mirick.
But Melrose also earned great second and third place finishes that helped tally up point total towards a win, which includes a second place finish in the 200 medley relay by Will Baranyi, Sam Haseltine, Owen Molway and Tristen Onstott. Will Lowe placed second in the 200 free, Gabe Hunnicutt was second in the 100 fly, Dan Muller second in the 100 free, Will Lowe second in the 500 and the teams 200 free relay placed second behind the work of Dan Mirick, Gabe Hunnicutt, Will Lowe and Jos Baranyi.
Reading came as close as 86-70 but Melrose’s final relay helped pull the team away.
Days later, on Jan 9 Melrose repeated their efforts, securing a 55-37 win over Central Catholic, a Div. 1 team.
“Our swimmers swam out of their minds at this meet,” says Pennachio. “Coming off our win against Reading our team was feeling confident. This was our senior meet so there was a big crowd cheering them on, the atmosphere was electric. Almost every swimmer swam a best time.”
In fact, Melrose won every race making it a clean sweep. They started off with a first place win in the 200 medley behind the work of Gabe Hunnicutt, Jos Baranyi, Owen Molway and Danny Mirick, took the 200 free and 500 free on the hard work by Will Lowe, another first place finish by Danny Mirick in the 200IM and 100 back, 50 free and 100 free victories by Jos Baranyi, and a 1st place finish by the 200 free relay on the work of Tristan Onstott, Dan Muller, Owen Molway and Will Lowe.
“The boys were fired up and ready to swim,” said coach Pennachio.
It’s been an excellent season so far for these Melrose athletes, who have seen multiple swimmers qualify for post season. Those include more recently, Jos Baranyi who qualified for states in the 100 Free and Danny Mirick in the 100 back. They also qualified two relays: the 200 medley for Sectionals behind the work of Gabe Hunnicutt, Jos Baranyi, Owen Molway and Danny Mirick and the 400 Free relay for States thanks to Jos Baranyi, Will Lowe, Gabe Hunnicutt, Danny Mirick.
While wins and qualifications are always nice, personal achievements can be the bread and butter in this sport and Melrose is proud to have plenty of swimmers earn best times in their events.
“Our distance swimmer Will Lowe has shaved off a lot of time in the 200 and 500 freestyle and is hoping to qualify for sectionals and states,” reports the coach. “So hasn’t our flyer Owen Molway who has made incredible progress this season.”
Melrose this season has joined forces with Stoneham High in a co-op, thus the nickname “Stonerose” and they are happy to welcome talented Stoneham swimmers, co-capt. Danny Mirick and freshman Tristan Onstott.
“The co-op is working out great but there is no surprise there,” says the coach. “They have all swam together on club teams growing up so they knew each other coming into the season. The Stoneham swimmers had to give up a lot, changing teams and seasons, but they fit right in with this team from day one.”
One anticipated event coming up is their always-anticipated meet against Burlington. “This rivalry has been going on for at least the past twenty five years,” says Pennachio. “It seems every season they are our most evenly matched team. This is also a rivalry I have witnessed from both sides of the pool. Coach Meegan and I both swam for Burlington when we were in high school. We know this rivalry well!
Melrose competes this Thursday (post deadline) on the road and have a couple meets left before the highly anticipated Middlesex League meet.
“If we can win two of the three upcoming meets we will finish with the team’s first winning record since the 1990’s,” he says. “It is the goal we set for ourselves as a team at the beginning of the season and we believe we can accomplish it.”