Meets against Burlington, Wakefield close season

Published February 19, 2021

By JENNIFER GENTILE

SAUGUS—The Melrose High gymnastics team finished their season on Sunday, February 14, an occasion that marked Senior Day for Melrose. Honored this day were outgoing seniors Caroline Dell Isola, Olivia Hitchman and Brooke Heidebrecht who gathered with their family members before the meet. Melrose compiled their highest score of the season during their meet against undefeated Burlington, thanks in part to the efforts of their seniors. 

SENIORS OLIVIA Hitchman (left) Caroline Dell Isola and Brooke Heidebrecht were honored at the start of Melrose season finale against Burlington. (Jennifer Gentile photo)

It was a busy weekend for the Red Raiders as they competed in back-to-back meets against two of the toughest teams in the league: Wakefield and Burlington. While Melrose fell to both competitors, they had some fine performances. Melrose traveled to Wakefield on Saturday to compete against the Wakefield Warriors, a team who only had one loss this season (to Burlington) and featured a very high scoring Lola Barrett, who wowed with a meet-high score of 9.5 in the bars also landed a first-ever double back on her floor routine for a 9.3. Still, Melrose started the meet with a very strong effort in the vault behind the work of Sofia Pitcher, Taylor Pesce, Lucy Hannon and Katherine Carney, who all scored high points for Melrose. Pesce’s vault was the best of the day with a score total of 8.5. Both she and Pitcher worked a half-off, full-off in the event. Wakefield won by the slightest of margins at 33.2-32.9. 

Melrose was edged by Wakefield in bars, 35.45-32.1, but not without the fine work of Grace Burke and Lucy Hannon, who both scored 8.7 and 8.5 respectively. Rounding out the scoring for Melrose was Katherine Carney, Brooke Heidebrecht, Raessler Guthrie and Sophia Weissman. On the beam, Melrose fell to Wakefield but saw points by Grace Gentile, Olivia Hitchman, Grace Burke and Sophia Weissman. Those competing in the event also included Caroline Dell Isola and Lucy Hannon. Melrose competed strongly in the floor but was narrowly edged by Wakefield 33.65-34.45. Among those earning top scores were Grace Burke (8.5) Lucy Hannon (8.4) Sophia Weissman (8.45) Katherine Carney (8.3) while also competing were Caroline Dell Isola and Sofia Pitcher. Overall, Melrose saw nice all-around performances by Grace Burke and Lucy Hannon, but still fell to the Warriors. 

Undeterred, the team hosted Burlington the very next day at the YMCA Metro North in Saugus. It was Senior Day and the team rose to the occasion and compiled their highest point total of the season. Melrose fell to undefeated, league-winner Burlington by a score of 139.00-133.85. It was Melrose’s best effort of the season and it started with a win in the vault. Melrose was strong from top to bottom behind the effort of Grace Burke (8.95), Brooke Heidebrecht (8.5), Sofia Pitcher (8.6) Taylor Pesce (8.5) Lucy Hannon (8.35) and Katherine Carney (7.8). They took the event over  Burlington, 34.55-34.25. 

Melrose was edged in the bars but saw nice scores from Grace Burke (8.4), Lucy Hannon (8.2) and Sophia Weissman (8.0) and Brooke Heidebrecht (7.9). Melrose’s beam event was highlighted by a great score from Lucy Hannon (9.15) and top scores from Olivia Hitchman (8.5) and Grace Burke (8.35). Longtime Melrose coach Denise Valdez saluted Hannon for her beam, which features a back tuck and full-off. “Lucy’s beam is a beautiful and she has flawless jumps,” she says. 

Melrose had one of their strongest floor events of the season with top performances by Caroline Dell Isola (8.0) Sofia Pitcher (8.1) Katherine Carney (8.35) Sophia Weissman (8.45) Lucy Hannon (8.0) and Grace Burke (8.0).

With the season behind them, coach Valdez notes that it was an unusual season during an unusual year. “It took us long to get the team all together as a group. We also had a late start. Just as we were hitting our stride we’ve reach the end. But, I think our effort against Burlington shows the potential that was there when we were all together as one.” 

While she was quite pleased with the team’s vault routines over the season, she sees room for improvement in the floor. “We were a little shaky this year on floor, which isn’t really like us. We lost some great competitors in it last season but I see potential here. The girls need to come out of their shell a little, and not just go through the motions. Performance-wise, we can step it up.” 

Still, she credits the team for giving it their all. “This team persevered. They were very resilient with our unpredictable lineups and our younger kids stepped up when we asked.” 

This season the team loses three seniors: captain Olivia Hitchman, Brooke Heidebrecht, and captain Caroline Dell Isola. All three have been with coach Valdez since freshman year. “Brooke is my workhorse who was committed to getting her strongest routines in bars and vault. Caroline came into her own this season. She got her back handspring on beam and we were so proud. And Olivia is someone we could count on to step into any routine. She was always our go-to.” 

New captains for 2022 season are returning captain Lucy Hannon, junior Katherine Carney and junior Grace Burke. “I like this group and I see them bringing a lot of energy into this role,” says their coach. 

Valdez also credits her assistant coach Dave Montani and volunteers Alicia Valdez and Jessie Roh. And, without a doubt, the season wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible video production of David Roh and Dan Weissman, who ran a live feed both home and at away meets. Their edited versions of both teams’ events were unlike anything else taped in the Middlesex League. All the team’s meets can be found at  https://www.youtube.com/c/MHSGymnasticsVideo

Returning next season are the aforementioned captains along with Sophia Weissman, Taylor Pesce, Sofia Pitcher, Megan Radzik, Katie Barker, Grace Gentile, Adele McAndrews, Reassler Guthrie, Jordan Tobin and Alison Doherty. Earning their first varsity letters on the team this year were freshman Grace Gentile and Reassler Guthrie.