Best effort of season against Woburn; Melrose now 4-0
Published in the January 22, 2016 edition
THE MELROSE High School gymnastic team is flying high at 4-0 after key wins over Woburn and Reading. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Lady Raider gymnastics team remains unbeaten after back-to-back wins over Woburn and Reading this week to improve their record to a perfect 4-0. Melrose earned their highest point total of the season with a whopping 140.3 over Woburn on Jan. 15, four points above their sectional-qualifying score in 2015.
Melrose beat the Tanners in every event but showed their best strength in vault (35.8) and floor (35.5). They were led in vault by Lauren Cincotta (9.2) and Brooke Barriss (9.0) and, overall, swept the event in the first four spots thanks to Tania Dutra (8.9) and Brooke Norriss (8.7). Shay Fennell, competing in all four events for Melrose, topped the contingent with a big 9.3 in floor. She was followed by teammates Sofie Duff (8.8) and Anna Pecci (8.8) and Izzy Albuja (8.6). Melrose was led in beam by Tania Dutra (8.9) and Emily DeCelle (8.7) along with Stephanie Dutra (8.6) and Shay Fennell (8.6). On bars Melrose saw Shay Fennell top the Melrose contingent with a score of 8.8. Teammates Brooke Barriss (8.6) Tania Dutra (8.5) Stephanie Dutra (8.3) followed.
Woburn’s Katelyn Wackrow proved to be the best competitor for the Tanners, with a first place finish for her team in each event including a 9.1 in floor.
After the meet Melrose head coach Denise Valdez credited her team, who accumulated the most points (140) in nearly two years. “Everyone just came to win against Woburn. Lauren [Cincotta] had a amazing and beautiful tsuk vault, which she landed just standing up. Brooke Barriss also did wonderful in the vault and she’s only a freshman.”
Valdez also pointed out the top notch performance by Shay Fennell, who recently incorporated a new tumbling pass. “She absolutely nailed it, her double full on the floor was beautiful.”
On Monday, Melrose continued the winning streak against Reading, beating a tough Rocket team, 132.55-131.6. Melrose saw victories in vault, bars and floor. Top scores came courtesy of Anna Pecci (floor), Shay Fennell (beam) Brooke Barriss (vault) and Tania Dutra (bars). Their cumulative score of 132 was slightly lower for the team, something Valdez attributed to a slight case of nerves. “They were a little off and intimidated going in,” she says. “They’re young and still building confidence. We have a few tough meets coming up this season against Arlington and Winchester. We have the talent to beat both of them, they just have to believe it.”
Melrose and Winchester both remain the only undefeated teams in the Middlesex League at 4-0 and will square off in a Middlesex League showdown at home for Senior Night season finale on Feb. 2. Before that, however, they will have to get past Stoneham and Arlington, both scheduled for the next two Friday nights at home.
Remaining Schedule
Fri. 1/22 7:15 p.m. vs. Stoneham (YMCA – Gymnastics Center)
Fri. 1/29 7:15 p.m. vs. Arlington (YMCA – Gymnastics Center)
Tue, 2/2 7:30 p.m. vs. Winchester (YMCA – Gymnastics Center)
Fri. 2/5 8 p.m. @ Middlesex League Meet – (Shriners Auditorium)
