By JENNIFER GENTILE
BOSTON—The Melrose-Stoneham High boy’s swim team wraps up one of their best season in years with a solid appearance at the 2025 Div. 2 State Finals held at Boston University on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Junior captain standout Jos Baranyi was Melrose’s top performer, with a great 4th place finish, good enough to land on the podium in the 100 free, earning a personal best time of 48.64, upping his seed time of 49.21.
Baranyi also came in 9th in the 500 free with a best time of 22.31.
“His dominance this season in the 50 and 100 Free really shows who Jos is as a swimmer,” says head coach Alex Pennachio. “He is fast, but also focused, conditioned, and determined. I’ve coached very few swimmers who are both as confident in their ability to win as the are resilient when a race doesn’t go their way.”
Melrose placed #20th in Div. 2 out of 40 teams.
They had sent several athletes to compete at the event, both individually and relay teams.
Danny Mirick swam the 200 IM with a 21st place finish, and he also swam the 100 back for a 19th place finish, earning a personal best time.
“Danny had an amazing season,” said his coach. “He was the one most impacted by the co-op this season, having swam his last three years in Stoneham in the fall. He stepped right up into the captain role and led the team. In the water he was one of the most dominant swimmers in the 200IM, including winning the event at the Middlesex League Meet. He also had an amazing season swimming backstroke and anchoring a number of our A-relays. Danny is one of those people who does everything right, from the way he swims to the way he treats people and I am lucky to have had him this season as a captain.”
Melrose nearly reached the podium with an 11th place finish in the 200 free behind the work of Mirick, Tristan Onstott, Gabe Hunnicutt and Jos Baranyi. The team’s 200 yard relay team was represented by Gabe Hunnicutt, Jos Baranyi, Tristan Onstott and Will Baranyi. And the team also qualified to swim the 400 free relay, which was manned by Gabe Hunnicutt, Will Baranyi, Tristan Onstott and Danny Mirick.
The season ends for Melrose and it’s been a fantastic one. With a final record of 5-3 Melrose now has completed their best season since 2005. “This was a hard working group, they set ambitious goals, knew what they needed to do to get better, and focused on improving themselves every practice,” says Pennachio.
He recalls one of their best meets of the season against powerhouse Lexington. “We kept it close and across the board everyone had fast swims. You could really see the team swimming with a sense of confidence.”
As far as the merging of two teams, Melrose and Stoneham, into a co-op? So far it’s been smooth sailing.
“The co-op is working well,” says the coach. “The proximity of the two towns and the tight-knit swimming community means that most of the swimmers from both school knew each other before the season started. I think our Captains Will Lowe and Danny Mirick did a great job bringing the team together to feel like a cohesive unit.”
The team is losing seven seniors who were key to the team’s success this year. They include Will Lowe, Dan Mirick, Gabe Dixon, Owen Erelli, Gabe Hunnicutt, Zach Hunnicut, Ryan McAndrew and Dan Muller.
“These seniors have been so instrumental over the past four years of establishing the team culture; creating a place where the swimmers are having fun but also training hard,” says their proud coach. “Their presence will certainly be missed but I believe their impact on the team will remain.”