Golf team has swung into fall season

Already earns a Freedom League win in early play 

THE MHS golf team is already two matches into their season (despite school just starting) and their efforts saw split results against Watertown and Wakefield. The reigning league champs will have a busy September in 2024. (file photo)

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—With school not even having started, the Melrose High golf team was the early bird catching the worm this week when they kicked off their 2024 fall season with an opening win over Watertown at Mt. Hood on August 26 in a 46-26 victory.

Fifteen athletes gear up this fall for head coach Rick McDermod, now on his 40^th year as coach at Melrose High (50^th as a city employee) a feat that is near unparalleled. As he reaches his fourth decade as the head coach of MHS golf, he is happy to have a great group of athletes in 2024. “These are great kids,” he notes. “And we are very lucky have two captains like Noah and Matt.”

Leading Melrose as senior captains are four-year starters Noah Fay and Matt Fuccione. They represent the #1 and #2 spots in early efforts on the links. Both comes with boatloads of experience. “These are both great players who shot beautifully against Watertown in our opening win,” notes McDermod. 

Both players have been with the coach as mere 14 year old freshmen and are now prepared to lead a talented squad of players, many returning, who’ll keep Melrose vying for another league title, which they’ve won 5 years straight.

Melrose was off to a good start on Monday, when they beat Watertown at Mt Hood with nearly the entire roster picking up wins. Leading in victory in the top spots were Noah Fay, 5.5-3.5 over his Raider opponent. Matthew Fuccione won 5-4 in the #2 spot. Mike Thomas tied in the third spot, and in the 4^th and 5^th spot, both Aiden Ryan and Dylan Harrington took wins of 5.5-3.5 and 8-1 respectively. In the 6^th spot, Tanner Kovacs prevailed 6-3 and in the 7^th and in the 8^th spot Ben Cavanaugh and Justin Santiorello also won, 6.5-2.5 and 5-4. Alternatives Colin Cote and Cooper Kovacs also took wins. Expect to see action from additional golfers Brendan Sestito, Ray Willis, Aiden Thompson and Damien Wittedol. “We had an early start to the season, before school started and Mt. Hood was more cooperative finding time for us,” notes the coach, who appreciates the early start that allows the team to take advantage of weather and daylight while also allowed wiggle room for any rain makeups. 

Melrose will enjoy four matches at their home base at Bellevue starting later in September. In the meantime will embark in a series of road matches against ML rivals Stoneham, Lexington and Winchester. 

And while Melrose will automatically be an instant contender to repeat their Middlesex Freedom League title, Wakefield proved a tricky opponent on Tuesday morning when Melrose hosted them at Mt Hood. Melrose lost by a mere two points in a tight match, 35-37. “Wakefield had a few very talented players, young ones too. They are tough to beat.”

Among those prevailing in the day for Melrose were Matt Fuccione, Mike Thomas, Ben Cavanaugh, Colin Cote, while Tanner Kovacs had a tie in the 6^th spot. 

And while the loss to the Warriors prevents another unbeaten Freedom League schedule in 2024, there’s an entire fall season ahead, including upcoming road matches against Stoneham on Sept. 9 and Lexington on Sept. 11. Melrose will return home on Sept. 26. Melrose will look to do some damage at the ML Shootout as well, which is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Notes coach McDermod, “These are really great kids, and as we start I’d like to see the kids focusing on just how important it is to get the points down from top to the lower part of the order. Every round and hole matters.”