Knocks off reigning state champ Wakefield for title
THE MELROSE High girls cross country team are Middlesex Freedom Champs after an exciting win over State Champion Wakefield on Tuesday at Pine Banks. (Kip Wilson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ cross country team pulled off the extraordinary on Tuesday, October 22 when they knocked off reigning state champion Wakefield at home for their final dual meet of the season and took the Middlesex Freedom title with a victory, 26-30.
It is their first league title since 2021, and Wakefield has owned it in the interim.
“Coach Loewald and I are so proud of what this team has accomplished, in particular this league championship,” said head coach Nick Tuccinardi after the victory. “The Middlesex League is one of the best in the state and winning a title is not easy. Further, beating Wakefield to win the title is not easy.”
In the past decade, both Melrose and Wakefield have won four league titles, each having to battle the other to claim a trophy.
“Half of those meets have come down to two points or less,” says the coach. “The margin of errors is so small.”
Melrose’s Reilly Powell swept the field with a first place finish of 20:04, overtaking Wakefield’s Lily Sallee. Wakefield took the next spot before Naomi Breay nabbed fourth with a time of 21:45. While Wakefield took 5th Melrose earned a critical 6-8th sweep behind the legs on Ella Ugino, Maizie Frakt and Violeta Rechea, in that order. An impressive 10th place finish from Zoe Audet rounded out the top 10 and earned points for Melrose.
Others performing nicely for Melrose included Elizabeth Weieneth, Catalina Mena, Skylar Blanch, Dakota Digiorgio, Abby Schad, Isla Paulson, Sully Ramirez, Kiley Shipulski, Mae Donahue, Helen Morash, Jane Teittinen, Sophie Strileckis, Mina Sheng, Aamal Qureshi, Laurel Wallace and Norah McNeilly.
It was all the more sweet as the team, families and fans celebrated Senior Day to honor their outgoing seniors Maizie Frakt, Kenzington Ludlum, Ella Ugino, Suly Ramirez, Skylar Blanch, Catalina Mena, and Mina Sheng.
“This is a big win and a very well earned title for the team,” said the coach. “They earned this through hard work and determination and making the right decisions for themselves and the team.”
There is more work to do. Now that the dual meet season is over and the trophy is back in Melrose hands, the team will look to collect more. Melrose will now focus on repeating their Div. 2A State title when they compete at the Finals at Ft. Devens on Nov. 9.
Stay tuned.
