A talented Melrose squad opens January 5
Published in the December 22, 2017 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High school gymnastics team returns to 2018 ready to collect more wins when they open their season Friday, January 5 at the YMCA of Metro North gymnastic center in Saugus.
SHAY FENNELL is among those returning to the Melrose High gymnastic team, who looks to earn another league title this season. (file photo)
Melrose is coming off another successful year and return many experienced gymnasts that should make this season another competitive one.
Four seniors return: Olivia Bernis and captains Isabel Abuja, Shay Fennell and Mya Marshall. They also have returning juniors Brooke Barriss, Caroline Fogarty, returning sophomores Katie Wright, Ciara Smith, Gabrielle Prodders, Nia Kovacev, Jane Harrington and Nicole Nzui. New freshmen include Caroline Dell Isola, Brooke Heidebrecht and Olivia Hitchman.
“We have a good amount of senior experience and really great competitors,” says coach Denise Valdez, who led Melrose to back-to-back league titles in 2015 and 2016. “Our girls are working very hard, some on new floor routines. It’s been great.”
Last year, Melrose benefitted from strong scoring from all-around gymnasts Katie Wright and Ciara Smith. This season, Melrose can expect them to perform all four events, while Brooke Barriss could see time in every event as well. Last season Melrose excelled in vault and beam. This year expect Barriss and Wright to show promise in the vault while beam could be manned by Isabel Abuja, Nia Kovalev, Ciara Smith, Katie Wright and Mya Marshall. Look for bars to be lead by Jane Harrington and Ciara Smith.
Valdez is excited about the addition of the team’s freshmen, Brooke Heidbret, Caroline Dell Isola and Olivia Hitchman. “They are doing well and working hard,” she reports.
And while Melrose has had ownership for a greater part of a decade of the Middlesex League title, this season Melrose will have to battle it out with Reading, who comes loaded with top talent, along with a strong Woburn team.
“It’s our goal every year to win a league title,” says the coach. “But we recognize the competition will be very tough so we are doing to work on improving our skills every day.”
Melrose kicks their season off against Wakefield on Friday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at their home base of YMCA Metro North in Saugus.
Season Schedule
(home meets: YMCA of Metro North)
Friday 1/5/18 v. Wakefield, 7:30
Tue 1/9/18 @ Reading, 7:30
Fri 1/12/18 v Stoneham 7:30
Fri 1/19/18 vs. Woburn, 7:30
Fri 1/26/18 v. Arlington, 7:30
Fri 2/2/18 v Winchester 7:30
Tue. 2/6/18 v. Burlington, 7:00
Mon 2/19 @Tewksbury, TBA
