Warriors are a small squad but have a talented pool of athletes
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The Warrior girls’ swim team may be the smaller team in most meets in terms of roster size. However, the Wakefield group is a dedicated one and the Warriors hope their hard work and talent pays off for any lack of depth that they might have.
Wakefield has seen a slight increase in the number of swimmers with 23 girls out for the team. Of those 23 athletes, there are many returning veterans on a Warrior squad that posted a 3-5 record in the Middlesex League a year ago.
Wakefield will once again be swimming outside of the community with the Northeast Metro Tech Pool out of commission. The Warriors will call be calling the Malden High School pool home once again.
“We are going to be the wandering Warriors,” said Head Coach Kathy Byrne. “We will be swimming our home meets at Malden High School. It’s tough not being able to swim at the Voke. It’s nice that Malden High has allowed to have a schedule for our home meets and practices. That’s take the pressure off me and allows me to get back to coaching where my heart lies anyway.
“We have 23 girls out for the team,” added Byrne. “Numbers are up slightly. We have a very dedicated group and they’re working hard.”
Wakefield will be led by senior co-captains Shannon Grady and Avery York.
Grady is quite the backstroker according to Byrne and she can swim the relays. York is talented and a hard worker said Byrne. York is one of the team leaders and she can swim the butterfly.
Wakefield also returns standout swimmer Shannon Quirk, a senior. Quirk was the Middlesex League champion in the 500 freestyle and she finished second at sectionals and states. She also swims the 200 freestyle.
“Shannon Quirk works hard every meet and she can swim any event, not just the freestyle,” said Byrne. “I’m excited to have her back and she is working hard. The whole team has shown improvement and they all have a great attitude.”
Abby Carney, Kim Green, Hannah Melanson and Gianna Tringale are four more returning seniors on the team.
Carney is a freestyler, while Green is back to swim the sprints, the 50 and 100 freestyles. Melanson is back to compete in the breaststroke. Tringale can swim in any event where Byrne needs to fill a spot.
There are four returning juniors that have been big contributors to the point scoring and who Byrne feels will have an impact once again. They are Madi Guay, Nicole Pecjo, Taylor Guarino and Tori Trinagle.
Guay returns to swim the breaststroke and butterfly, Pejco returns to compete in the individual medley and butterfly and Guarino is backstroker. Tringale has been working hard according to Byrne and she can help out in several different events including the relays.
The rest of the team, which includes many sophomores and freshmen, are working hard and Byrne thinks there are couple of underclass swimmers that could rise to the top.
“We’ll do the best we can,” said Byrne. “I think we can win a few meets and we’ll get to the sectional and state championships. My focus is see the individual improvement of the swimmers each meet. That’s all I can ask.”
Wakefield opens up the season tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. when it takes on Woburn at the Suburban YMCA Pool.
