GRACE GENTILE’S work on the beam has helped Melrose reach a winning season that will turn to a post season this Sat. at the MIAA North Sectionals. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
Melrose qualifies for post season this weekend
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Don’t look now, but the little team that could has done the improbable. The Melrose High gymnastics team, who started the season down to just 6 healthy competitors, has qualified for a post season with an earned appearance at this weekend’s MIAA team North Sectionals at Algonquin High in Northborough. There they will compete among the 12 best North high school teams in Massachusetts. Melrose got the job done after averaging a high score of 135.57, just enough to join the best of the MIAA North teams.
“I was beyond surprised and so excited to found out we made it,” says longtime Melrose coach Denise Valdez. “This team is just rocking it. I started out with an expectation of them scoring perhaps in the 125’s since we had many new faces, but at the first meet that we got a 133, I was just floored. Anytime I doubt them, they just love proving me wrong.”
Last week, Melrose competed in the Middlesex League Meet at Burlington High and placed 5th among 9 teams, four of which will join Melrose at Sectionals (Reading, Wilmington/Bedford, Burlington and Wakefield.) As it turns out, a lot of the talent of the North is found in the Middlesex League. So the competition was fierce when Melrose competed against the ML 9 last Thursday. Those who stood out for Melrose in scoring were senior captain Katherine Carney and freshman Owen Mistretta in vault (9.15, 9.0 respectively) along with senior captain Lucy Hannon in both beam (9.0) and floor (8.75).
Overall, Melrose’s improvement since their first meet six weeks ago has been impressive and surprising. “This is a team who has found its niche,” says coach Valdez. “It didn’t take long either. There is a really wonderful chemistry between them, starting with our senior leaders, Lucy, Katherine and Taylor, who really helped this team come together and have given our younger athletes so much confidence. It’s been wonderful to see.”
While all season Melrose has showed major depth in vault behind the work of Sofia Pitcher, Taylor Pesce, Lucy Hannon and Katherine Carney, the addition of Noah Williamson and Owen Mistretta has given the team braun in the event. Floor also remains a strength for Melrose behind Hannon, Carney, Pesce, Pitcher and newcomers Katelyn Plourde and Isabella Ferranti. But Valdez also likes what she sees in beam, thanks to work of Pitcher, Carney, Hannon along with sophomore Grace Gentile, Isabella Ferrante and Maya Weissman. “Honestly, seeing them stick beam as much as they do is something we’re happy about,” notes the coach. “Limiting falls of the beam over the season has also been a cause of pride.”
Over the weekend, two of Melrose’s All-Around athletes competed with great results at the MIAA Individual State Meet. Lucy Hannon represented Melrose on the beam and Katherine Carney on the vault. Hannon medaled in 9th and and Carney earned 14th. “I was so proud of both their performances,” says Valdez. And all this great competition comes with the sober knowledge that the high school careers of her seniors are coming to a close. “Seeing Lucy, Katherine and Taylor depart will be bittersweet. I can’t even remember a time when they were not on the team.”
“I’m just so lucky and grateful to have this entire group of kids,” she says of the squad. “They have surpassed my expectations and kept it fun, competitive and happy environment.”