Published February 14, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE SENIORS were honored on Senior Night. Pictured, with their families, from left are: Jane Harrington, Nicole Nzui, Gabrielle Prodgers, Ciara Smith and Katie Wright. (Steve Karampalas photo)
MELROSE—The Melrose High girl’s gymnastics team finished their regular season with a victory over Woburn and a bronze medal finish at the 2020 Middlesex League meet held on Monday at Burlington High. Melrose (6-2 overall) also is a favorite to be included in the list of qualifiers for the MIAA North Sectionals when the qualifying teams are released later this week.
On Friday, February 7 the team gathered to honor their seniors Jane Harrington, Katie Wright, Gabrielle Prodgers, Ciara Smith and Nicole Nzui. The five were big parts of the team’s win over the Tanners that followed. Prodgers stood out on the floor routine with a score of 8.7. Nzui had a very solid vault and was awarded a score of 8.65. Jane Harrington was one of the top bar scorers with a 8.7. Smith and Wright enjoyed all-around duties with Wright killing it in the vault (9.45) and Smith in the floor (8.9)
On Monday, Melrose beat the entire league in the vault with a score of 35.425 which bested league winner Reading and a super talented Wakefield team, who placed second at the meet.
Melrose head coach Denise Valdez was thrilled with Melrose’s effort. “I told the girls after the meet that I couldn’t be more proud. They did everything they needed to. This team doesn’t give up and once they focus they are so hard to stop.”
Melrose swept the vault thanks to excellent performances by Taylor Pesce (8.55) Grace Burke (8.625) Nicole Nzui (9.0) and Katie Wright (9.25). Other top scores over the evening included Ciara Smith’s 8.95 bar score and Katie Wright’s 9.25 in floor.
Don’t expect the competition to be over yet. Melrose routinely qualifies for the MIAA North Finals and is expected to join the field again this year. Melrose’s average score of 139 should be enough to advance them. They will find out on Thursday (post deadline).
Certainly, this team has has more gymnastics in them. No one knows that better than Valdez. She says, “We have some work to do, focusing on releases on bars and working on connections. And maybe tidy things up on floor. We’re not done yet.”
