Melrose slips to Woburn for first loss in 49 meets
THE MELROSE High School gymnastic team suffered their first loss in 5 years when they fell to Woburn Friday night. 4-1 Melrose looks to rebound this week. Pictured is freshman Shay Fannell. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — It was an historic run for Melrose Lady Raider gymnastic team but on Friday, Jan. 30 their 49 meet winning streak came to an end at Woburn High. Melrose (4-1) earned their first loss of the season and its first defeat in five years and 49 meets when they fell by a whisker to undefeated Woburn, 129.85 to 128.2. The Tanners brought to the mat a tough gymnast Kelly Doherty, who swept four events and tallied 9.3s on beam and vault.
Melrose played without junior standout Izzy Judware, a 4 event athlete and point-generator for Melrose now out with injury. The loss was felt hard, particularly on the beam and bars. Melrose ended up splitting events with the Tanners, taking the floor and vault with scores of 34.35-33.45 and 33.05-31.05 but dropped the bars and beam events.
Melrose’s strongest event was the floor thanks to an 8.8 given to Audrey McFarland and an 8.65 to Shay Fennell. Lauren Cincotta topped all scores for Melrose with a 9.05 on the vault, while Brooke Norris (8.8) and Shay Fannell (8.4) performed nicely to help Melrose take the event.
Melrose competes in the Middlesex League Meet this Saturday at 2:30 at Stoneham High. They will have a chance to take another league crown. Melrose has topped the event for the last five years.
