Competitive Melrose team is already 3-2
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MALDEN—Don’t look now, but the Melrose High boys swim is a team to beat as they kick off 2024 with a winning record, and their league rivals know it.
Melrose is off to a terrific start at 3-2 with victories over Lowell, Winchester, and Malden and additionally have qualified swimmers to Sectionals and States.
Jos Baranyi (50 and 100 free) and Ben Terentiyev (200 IM and 100 Breast) have both qualified for Sectional and States and just recently, the relay team of Gabe Hunnicutt, Ben Terentiyev, Owen Molway, and Jos Baranyi qualified for Sectionals in the 200 Medley Relay.
“I have been very happy with our depth,” reports Melrose head coach Alex Pennachio. “At this point in the season we have yet to roll out a full lineup due to illnesses, but our newer swimmers have picked up the sport really fast and have been contributing in key spots.”
Among the highlights in recent meets have been the work of freshman Sam Haseltine, who had a very gritty race in the 200 IM against Malden. He out-touched two Malden swimmers to secure 3rd place and a Melrose sweep of the event which put Melrose in such a strong position points wise that made it difficult for Malden to mount a comeback the rest of the meet.
So far this season, Melrose has been work from the following swimmers in each rotation: Breast: Ben Terentiyev, Zach Hunnicutt, Ryan McAndrew. Backstroke: Gabe Hunnicutt, Owen Molway, Gabe Dixon, Owen Erelli. Fly: Gabe Hunnicutt, Owen Molway, Sam Haseltine, and Free: Will Lowe, Jos Barayni, Owen Erelli, Nik Johansson, Joe Parmet, Yash Gulrajani, Dan Muller
Melrose is also close to qualifying in a number races, particularly the 200 Freestyle Relay, and Will Lowe in the 200 & 500 Free.
Ben Terentiyev picks up where he left off last season, when he broke the school record. This season he may break another one. Explains his coach, “Ben started off the season sick and has only swam the most recent meet against Malden completely healthy. He has been working hard in practice and is eyeing the school record in the 50 Breast, set in 1986 by Gary Gauch.”
Melrose is also enjoying some outstanding swims from Will Lowe, particularly in distance events. Notes Pennachio, “Will is looking to be a power house in the 200 and 500 having won the 500 in every meet and the 200 in every meet but one.”
Melrose also benefits from other athletes in the event. Says the coach, “We have had a rotating cast of other swimmers in the distance event as well including Owen Erelli, Nik Johansson, and Joe Parmet who have all had strong swims.”
Melrose will also enjoy competitive sprinting events. “Sprinting is always so tough because the races are so close, but by the end of the season I would not be surprised to see Jos Barayni as one of the top sprinters in the league,” says Pennachio.
Melrose will enjoy a “must see” meet against Burlington this Thursday (post deadline) which could prove a key league battle.
From there, their schedule gets more challenging with meets against Lexington and Central Catholic but definitely within reach. “These will all be close meets,” predicts the coach.
One thing is for sure, at this rate they could finish the season with a winning record and that’s something worth celebrating.
Notes Pennachio, “We are on track to end the season with a winning record for the first time since the 1990s. It is far from a guarantee but is definitely possible and a goal the team is invested in achieving.”
For this team, the best is yet to come.