Young Warriors compete against Melrose
CASEY KEARNEY, a freshman, performs on the balance beam during Wakefield’s meet against Melrose. Kearney scored a 7.4 on beam. However Kearney’s best event on Tuesday night was the floor exercise where she finished second with a score of 8.5. (Donna Larsson Photo)
Published in the January 15, 2016 edition.
SAUGUS — If the goal was to improve from the first meet, then the mission was accomplished for the Wakefield Memorial High girls’ gymnastics team.
The Warriors scored 118.30 points which was nearly two points higher than their first meet on Tuesday night against Middlesex League juggernaut Melrose at the YMCA Metro North Gymnasium. The Red Raiders tallied 134.85 points to win the meet.
Wakefield scored a total of 31.9 points in vault to Melrose’s 34.8.
Courtney Collins, a seventh grader, was Wakefield’s top performer in the event as she was awarded a score of 8.1. Casey Kearney, a freshman, was next for the Warriors with a score of 8.0.
Taking the top four places for Melrose were Lauren Cincotta (8.9), Brooke Barriss (8.8), Brooke Norriss (8.6) and Shay Fennell (8.0).
The rest of the Warriors who competed in vault included sophomores Kaylo Lima (7.9), Alyssa Vacca (7.8) and Lizzie Finn (5.7).
Wakefield scored a total of 26.2 points on bars to Melrose’s 33.15.
The top four places went to Melrose gymnasts Tania Dutra (8.45), Fennell (8.4), Barriss (8.2) and Stephanie Dutra (8.1).
Wakefield also had four athletes compete on bars. They included Kearney (7.2), Collins (7.1), Vacca (6.0) and seventh grader Elizabeth Sheridan (5.9).
On the balance beam, the Warriors scored a total of 28.6 points while the Red Raiders amassed a score of 33.2.
Sheridan had Wakefield’s top score on beam with a 7.6.
Taking first through fourth for Melrose were Anna Pecci (8.6), Mya Marshall (8.2), Fennell (8.2) and Dutra 8.2.
Also competing on beam for the Warriors were Kearney (7.4), Collins (7.2), sophomore Kathryn Noble (6.4) and Finn (5.7).
In the final event, the floor exercise, Wakefield had a team total of 31.6 points to the Red Raiders 33.7.
Kearney came in second place on floor with a score of 8.5, while Sheridan and Collins tallied a 7.9 and 7.8, respectively.
Pecci won the event for Melrose with a score of 8.95 while Sophie Duff tied for second with Kearney with the 8.5 score. Taking fourth was Fennell with an 8.15.
Also competing on floor for the Warriors were Vacca (7.4), Lima (7.3) and Noble (5.8).
Wakefield is off for the holiday weekend before it has back to back meets on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, Wakefield takes on Burlington at 4:30 p.m. at Burlington High School. On Wednesday, the Warriors face Stoneham at 4:30 p.m. at Stoneham High School.
