1st ML title for boys since 1973, repeat trophy for girls
By JENNIFER GENTILE
BRIGHTON—History was made on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the Track at New Balance Center in Boston when the Melrose High School boys and girls indoor track teams both became unbeaten Middlesex Freedom League champions with wins over Watertown, which finishes their dual meet season flawless at 5-0 each.
Significantly, this is the first league title earned by the boy’s team since 1973. For the girls’ team, this is a repeat league victory as they also took the title last season. Overall, this is the first time both teams have won league titles in the same season.
Boy’s head indoor coach Tim Morris was thrilled for his team. “Since this is the first time since 1973, it sure was exciting for everyone involved,” he said after the meet. “Achieving this goal has been in the works for the past four years. Last year, we finished one meet shy of winning it all. Our talented athletes have trained hard and continued to develop in order to compete and be undefeated in the Freedom Division of the Middlesex League.”
For Melrose girls coach Shannon Kane, this win is twice as nice.
“It is great that it’s our second year in a row,” she says. “I think our team was really good last year, but I would still say we were in a building year. This year, all of the pieces have really come together.”
Both teams dominated Watertown with big wins on the boys’ side coming from their 55 hurdles team who swept the field behind first place winner Giancarlo Martinis Torres, second place Charlie Finocchiaro and third place Max Lanciani. Lanciani and Finocchiaro had a particularly strong day, also sweeping the high jump along with teammate Sam Madden, who became the MSTCA Div. 3 State Relay champion in the high jump on Sunday. His 6’2 jump topped all competition.
“The high jump has been a point of pride for the team this year,” says coach Morris. “Led by Sam Madden, personal best 6 feet four inches, and jumpers Charlie and Amato Finocchiaro, Max Lanciani, Sebastian Fiote, Jason Tang, Nick Vassallo and Chris Cinella, we have swept the high jump in most meets.”
This talented group is coached by Matt Dorothy and Cal Finocchiaro.
Melrose’s distance team has certainly gone the distance. Against Watertown, they enjoyed a first place win by Henry McCormack, who is part of a talented group of seasoned runners. Coached by Mike Cotugno, this group has consistently won the mile, two mile, 600 and 1000 meter events. “The leader of this group has been Caleb Barnes, who has been a workhorse for the past three years and this year has dominated in the mile and two mile events,” says the coach. “Points scored by Jonah Tully, Henry McCormack, Billy Oldham, Andre Bancu, Jad Jamaleddine, Adam Caldwell, John Strong, Ben Dugan, Dan Teittinen and Jack Cavanaugh have all added to the success of the team,” he adds.
The hurdlers and sprinters have been a dependable source of team points all season, contends Morris. He points to the work of Giancarlo Martinis Torres, Frost Drogan, Charlie, Lance, Tyler Lecomte, Sebastian Fiote, Chet Fantozzi, Richie Harrison, Matt Callahan, Matt Sarnoski and Brendan Radzik, who have been victorious in hurdles, sprints, relays and long jumps.
“Brendan Radzik has been a team player who is willing and able to perform at a high level, in multiple events,” says Morris. “Throughout his track career he has competed in the 55 meter dash, 300 meters, long jump and relays. We will miss his versatility when he graduates this year.”
And he tips his cap to his shot put team too. “Jack McAree, Keegan Maloney, Christian Correira, and a solid group of underclass men.”
The Watertown meet had nice first and place finishes behind the work of Radzik, Tyler Lecomte and Sebastian Fiote in the 55dash, Adam Caldwell and Jonah Tully in the 300, Caldwell and Matt Sarnoski in the 600, Henry McCormack, Ben Dugan and Andre Bancu in the 1 mile, Jad Jamaleddine and William Oldham in the 2 mile, John Strong, Gavin Barsotti and Anderson Ji in the 1000, Max Lanciani, Sam Madden and Charlie Finocchiaro in the high jump, Brendan Radzik, Jason Tang and Matt Callanan in the long jump, Jack McAree, Christiain Correia in shot and a first place finish by the 4×200 relay team of Tyler Lecomte, Max Lanciani, Brendan Radzik and Josh Grant.
“This senior-heavy team set a goal to win this league title and I’m so proud of them for achieving it!” says Morris.
Girls Team Brought Experience to Dual Meet Season
The MHS girls’ indoor track team was equally dominating over Watertown, prevailing in several events. Their biggest winner was Nora McCormack, a freshman who prevailed over the entire league in the 1-mile with a time of 5:41. Other first place finishes included Lara McLucas in the 55 dash (teammate Amelia Kelley was third), Amelia Kelley in the high jump, Emma Drago in the 300, Abby Taylor in the 600, an impressive sweep in the 1000 by Reilly Powell, Cadence L’Heureux and Ella Yorkey, Jill Frawley in the 600, and their relay teams of Ella Yorkey, Maizie Fraft, Anna Burns and Emma Drago (4×400) and the 4×200 team of Jill Frawley, Lilah Fauci, Ella Walsh and Abby Taylor. There was also a sweep in the shot put by the unstoppable Emme Boyer, who once against swept all of the Middlesex League followed by teammates Anna Sullivan and Sophia Sullivan.
“We’re undefeated in long jump and shot put, but in long jump we have swept in multiple meets. The long jump crew is usually made up of Cadence L’Heureux, Amelia Kelley, and Lauren Healey,” says Kane. “And our distance program is always strong. Ella Yorkie, Nora McCormick, Reilly Powell, Cadence L’Heureux, Teagan Altman, Maizie Frakt, Kensie Ludlum, and Emma Drago have all lead our mid and distance squad this season. And Lara McLucas and Abby Taylor have been instrumental in any event they are placed in, from the 55 dash to the 600.”
Both teams performed great at the Div. 3 MSTCA State Relays held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston over the weekend. The boys became silver medalists with a 2nd place finish while the girls placed 9th.
Among those who really stood out was Sam Madden, crowned champion in the high jump, and Brendan Radzik who won the silver in the long jump. Additionally their 4×50 relay team of Tyler Lecomte, Sebastian Fiote, Brendan Radzik and Josh Grant earned bronze. Others who earned medals included Max Lanciani in the high jump, the 1600m relay team of Adam Caldwell, Matt Sarnoski, Brendan Radzik and Josh Grant. The boys also had a great shuttle relay behind the work of Charlie Finocchiaro, Nick Vassallo, Giancarlo Martinis Torres and Max Lanciani (4th) and a 5th place finish in the 4×800 relay of Henry McCormack, John Strong, Dan Tiettinen, and Ben Dugan.
The girls also had great performances at the MSTCA event with several medaling, including a silver medal performance by Emme Boyer, the girls distance relay team Cadence L’Heureux, Abby Taylor, Maizie Frakt, and Reilly Powell, who earned bronze, and the team’s 4×800 team Ella Yorkie, Nora McCormick, Reilly Powell, and Maizie Frakt. “They ran 30 seconds better than they did the previous week, which not only qualified them for states, but also for nationals,” reports the proud coach.
Among those on the team who have qualified for post season includes:
Cadence – Long jump, 600, 1000
Emme Boyer – Shot put, high jump
Amelia Kelley – high jump
Reilly Powell – mile, 1000, and 2 mile
Nora McCormick – mile, 1000
Ella Y – 600, 1000
Lara McLucas – 300
Emma Drago – 300, 600
Maizie Frakt – 2 mile
All three relay teams, 4×200, 4×400, and 4×800
“We have a lot of younger depth on the team, a lot of girls that aren’t afraid to take risks and put themselves out there to not only get to where they want to be competitive, but get the team the recognition they deserve for all of the hard work they put in,” says coach Kane. “So basically we feel amazing, and validated that our hard work is paying off for everyone to see.”
With so much winning, certainly these two teams will enter their post season as favorites and medal contenders. And there is a lot of season left to go. This weekend the team will very likely compete in the annual MSCTA’s Coaches Invitational at Reggie Lewis Center. The Middlesex League Meet will also take place next week.
Look for more medals earned by both hard working, championship squads.