Young Warrior squad looks to 10th graders to lead the way this winter
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — To say the girls’ gymnastics team is young might just be the understatement of the year.
SOPHOMORE ABBY Harrington is the lone captain on the girls’ gymnastics team and she will be competing in the all-around for the Warriors.
(Donna Larsson File Photo)
The Warriors head into the 2015 season with no seniors and juniors on the team and a sophomore captain leading the way. Wakefield also has a small squad as it seeks to be competitive in the Middlesex League this winter.
The Warriors posted a 1-6 record last year with the lone victory coming against Arlington. Wakefield will be hard pressed to duplicate that effort.
“We are a small team this year. Nine seniors graduated last year,” said Head Coach Lisa Mansfield. “We are definitely going to have to stay healthy to even stay close to last year’s team.”
Not only did the nine seniors graduate but one of Wakefield’s top gymnasts, junior Catherine Urbano is no longer on the team.
The captains of last year’s team were senior Caroline Danehy, senior Erica Santaniello and Urbano.
The Riley twins, Raquel and Haley, both graduated as well along with seniors Mary O’Connell, Angeline LoBrutto and Nicole Palermino.
Still there are underclass Warriors that have varsity experience from a year ago. That includes sophomore captain Abby Harrington who will be competing in the all-around. She is capable and probably will be Wakefield’s top scorer this year.
The other all-around gymnast will be sophomore Mia Romano.
Alyssa Corso, another sophomore, has the ability to compete in the all-around but most likely will participate in three events each meet. Which events could depend on need and possibly Wakefield’s opponent as well.
Two more returning gymnasts include Olivia Kostopoulos and Mary Gerace, both sophomores. Kostopoulos will compete on beam, vault and bars while Gerace will compete on vault, beam and floor.
There are two freshmen gymnasts who show promise in the early going. They are Elizabeth Finn and Alyssa Vacca. Finn is going to participate on beam and Vacca will go on bars and vault.
Wakefield opens up the season this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. when it hosts Reading in the upstairs gymnasium at Wakefield Memorial High School.
