Published November 4, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A cold and rainy day didn’t stop the cross-country teams from celebrating Senior Night on Oct. 29.
The Pioneers honored 14 seniors during the Senior Night celebration that was held the same day Lynnfield faced archrival North Reading. The seniors on the girls’ team who were honored were captains Megan Chann and Jen Miller as well as Ava Buonfiglio. The seniors on the boys’ team who were honored were captains John Astrofsky, Mike Dreher and Mike Madden as well as John Briggs, Jack Galvin, Myles McKay, Andrew Moresch, Joe Pagliuca, Anthony Palmer, Connor Sokop and Jake Soriano.
“I am very proud of the seniors for holding things together during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pioneers head coach Joe DiBiase. “Having a season was a bit of normalcy for all of us, and especially since it is my final season as head coach, it was really rewarding and enjoyable to coach them this season and the previous years they ran cross-country. This group of seniors were fantastic leaders and role models.”
Girls’ sting Hornets
The girls’ team (2-2) cruised past the Hornets 23-36 during the meet. The lowest score in cross-country wins.
Freshman Katie Cash broke the tape first after setting a new personal-best against North Reading (21:36). Sophomore Bianca Guarracino finished second during the meet (21:47).
Sophomore Courtney Cumming finished fifth against the Hornets, which was a new personal best (21:49). Junior Kayleigh Weeks finished sixth overall (22:12). Freshman Olivia Goguen also set a personal best with her seventh place finish (22:25).
DiBiase praised the girls’ team’s performance against the Hornets.
“The girls ran a very solid race,” said DiBiase. “They are posed to be one of the league’s best teams next year as we will return all top seven runners.”
Boys’ fall to NR
The boys’ team (1-3) fell 24-31 to North Reading.
Senior captain Mike Madden finished third against the Hornets (17:08).
“Mike ran a strong race, but he couldn’t break into the top two,” said DiBiase.
Sophomore John McKrell finished fifth during the meet (18:00). Soriano set a new personal best with his sixth place finish (18:07).
Astrofsky finished eighth against the Hornets (18:32). Dreher was 10th overall (19:07).
“The boys lost to a tough cross-country team,” said DiBiase.
