Published in the January 25, 2017 edition

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

MIDDLETON— Chelsea O’Hara is back for her third year as the head coach of the Lynnfield–Masconomet High co-op girls gymnastics team.

Last season, the Chieftains finished 6-2 overall. Five seniors from that squad graduated but six members returned this winter.

Three of them are this year’s tri-captains, seniors Caitlin Clarizia and Caroline Sordell and junior Lylah Paine. Clarizia is from Lynnfield.

The other three members back are juniors Ryder Burliss, Hannah Callahan and Danielle Trembley.

Freshman Anna Schmidt is the other Chieftain from Lynnfield.

The team was slated to open the season on Jan. 7 against Peabody and Essex Tech in a tri-meet. That event was snowed out. The second meet was scheduled the next day against Marblehead and that was postponed due the snow as well.

Start season 2-0

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the Chieftains faced Essex Tech and Marblehead at the team’s home gym, Yellow Jackets in Middleton.

The Chieftains were victorious against both teams to start the season at 2-0. Lynnfield-Masconomet had a total score of 132.01. Marblehead finished nearly 10 points behind at 122.1 while Essex Tech trailed by just over 12 points at 120.35.

“We performed really well,” said O’Hara, who is a Masconomet graduate. “Our goal is to bump our score by five points by the end of the year.”

Two freshmen had outstanding debuts, Catherine Dinanno and Nicole Bonacorso.

“They are my all-arounders,” O’Hara told the Villager. “They were both club gymnasts and should have a big impact this year.”

On the bars, Bonacorso topped opponents from both schools by scoring an 8.0 while Dinanno took second with a 7.9.

On the beam, the script was reversed with Dinanno earning first with a 9.0 while Bonacorso was second with an 8.4.

Dinanno also won the vault with a 9.2 while Clarizia earned second-place with an 8.85.

Lynnfield-Masco swept the the floor exercise against both teams as well. Bonacorso was first (9.3), Dinanno was second (8.95) and junior Miranda Marks took third (8.7).

Beverly looks beatable

Beverly had been the team to beat in the Northeastern Conference–Cape Ann League for the past few years, but O’Hara feels that they have a chance to knock out the Panthers this year.

“That should be a very good meet,” she stated.

The Chieftains’ next meet will be held on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. as they take on the Peabody Tanners at the Yellow Jackets gym in a make-up meet.