A STRONG line will be Melrose High football’s calling card in 2022. (photo by Raj Das www.edphotos.com)
MHS fall teams always bring home the hardware
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—With the melodic sound of the MHS marching band and color guard warming up on Fred Green field in the late summer evenings, the return of high school sports is on the minds of many Melrose fans anticipating the return of their favorite sports teams as early as this week.
Typically MHS’ strongest sport season, fall brings a return to not just football, but a host of quality teams that have accomplished much over the last few seasons, including earning major hardware.
In 2021-22, Melrose High earned eight league titles, one state championship, two sectional titles and individual state titles and nearly 75 student athletes were named All-Stars. Four of the teams who took home league trophies (and sectionals) will return this fall: volleyball, girls’ cross country, golf and boys’ soccer.
Next week we will preview each team in depth, but here is a brief recap of what to expect as September kicks off.
The always-strong MHS golf team begins sooner than most: the week of September 1 and continues next week against Stoneham on the road. Last fall, Melrose were repeat league champions with a 5-0 sweep of the Middlesex Freedom League. They also wowed at the 2021 Middlesex League Shoot Out by earning the ML Freedom title. Earning the trophy as a team were the three Melrose representatives sent to Bear Hill that day: Brian Healy, Patrick Cotter and AJ Dell Isola. The team also made an appearance at the Div. 2 North Sectionals represented by returning players Patrick Cotter, AJ Dell Isola, Jason Pino and Roddy McGillicuddy. Expect these shooters to keep Melrose a favorite for a league title this fall.
All signs show that Melrose High football will be more competitive than last season when they experienced a rebuilding year. As ever, they will be aided by the league winning MHS cheer team. Watch out for Melrose’s offensive line. They will be beasts, with a handful of 6’0+ heavyweights protecting new quarterback Josh Madden. Among those will be Columbia-committed player Braden Marceau Olayinka. Watch out for Charlie Krygowski, Ian Gauch, JD Labarbera, Jack Claeys, Cam Lippie and Ellis Davis who will use their size and experience to their advantage. And look for running backs Steve Fogarty and Otto Albanese to collect yardage over the season. Historically, with a tough line and big players on both sides of the ball, Melrose can adopt a relentless running game that, in years’ past, has led to Super Bowl seasons. This may be the formula Melrose works with in 2022.
Senior captains Megan Casey and Meghan Maher will keep the MHS field hockey team competitive this fall. (photo by Raj Das www.edphotos.com)
Look for the Melrose girls’ and boys’ cross-country teams to be favorites for league titles in the fall of 2022. Both proved to be among the best in the state last fall by advancing to the MIAA Div. 2 Finals. On the boy’s side, a late season surge led to a sterling performance at the MIAA All States Final. Melrose was ranked 7th but ran their best to finish with an outstanding 5th place, thanks in part to the work of entering senior captain Ellis lurilli-Hough and now-graduates Will Dugan and Ryan Cotugno. Hough will be sharing captain duties with Peter Story. And keep your eye out for sophomore sensation Caleb Barnes.
The league champion girls’ cross-country team became Div. 2A silver medalists at state finals, which advanced them to All States, thanks in part to the work of now seniors Jillian Bakey and Lily Kavanaugh. They advanced with runners Charlotte Tysall, Elaine Albuja, Maizie Frakt, Juliet Moore and Kate Sikkema to compete there. Having only graduated Tysall and Sikkema, expect Melrose to be a strong favorite to repeat this effort this fall.
The crowd-drawing and near flawless Melrose High volleyball team of 2021 become sectional champs after a remarkable 21-2 season in which they drew the #5 seed in the Div. 2 playoffs. They advanced to state semifinals where they fell to unbeaten Westborough. Coach Scott Celli earned his 500th win over the season. Returners include four-year starter & All-Star middle hitter Chloe Gentile, returning middle Sadie Jaggers, All Star setter Gia Vlajkovic, and defensive specialists Grace Gentile, Ava McSorley and Emma Desmond. Also returning are hitters Anna Shoemaker and Leah Fowke, hitter/DS Gigi Albuja and setter/DS Ruth Breen. New players Manon Marchais and Caroline Higonenq will add oomph to the talented roster.
One of the most exciting teams last fall was the MHS boys’ soccer team, who stunned with a league-winning season and terrific 12-5 record. It was simply a joyride season that saw them earn the #9 seed in the Div. 2 playoffs. They fell in a 1-0 heartbreaker to Scituate but completed a season that saw Melrose finish with the third-best record in both large and small division (ahead of historically tough teams like Reading, Watertown and Woburn.) They also saw All Scholastic efforts from graduate Parker Thorton. Melrose graduated ten seniors, including their goalie, so expect a new crop of faces to help senior captains and leaders Ian Smith, Damian Markovich and Russell O’Donnell along with talented starters, including All Star Joey Beshel, Jovan Ssebugwawo and Amir Lahkiky, among others.
On the girls’ side, look for a battle tested MHS girls’ soccer team to use speed and athleticism to pave the way for wins this season just one year after falling shy of playoffs. Captains Talia Hamberg and Ava Tormo will help, and a strong Tormo at goalie can make or break a season (and last year her injury did). Melrose has seen an early goal in pre-season from freshman Sophie McElligott and will count on last year’s scoring standout Chloe Mahoney to help find the net this fall.
The Melrose High field hockey team had one of their strongest seasons in years last fall and fell just shy of playoff contention, narrowly edged out of the 32 teams in a postseason field. Melrose saw some strength in defense, who gave up just six goals in their last three games. Though they lost lead scorer Kalina Piasecki and 11 other seniors, they return with a dynamic duo of Megan Casey and Meghan Maher, who serve as captains along with defensive pro Lindsay Teeven. Count on goalie Layla Szymczak and last year’s freshman find Ava Viola to keep Melrose competitive. The team will be utilizing an 8th grade waiver which has already helped them beef up numbers.
The MHS girls’ swim team had great numbers last season but, with a good amount of senior graduates, now remain the best chance for new athletes and underclassmen (including 8th graders) to come into the program and make their mark. Thirteen swimmers have plunged in the pool. Those who may help lead include seniors Maddie Brodeur, Madison Wright, Noelle L’Hereux and juniors Amara Otaluka, Emilia Rahilly and Sophia Scacchi. Freshman find of 2021, Catherine Kavanaugh, also returns.
Next week, check our in-depth look at the fall teams in our annual Fall Sport Supplement which includes our full season schedule.
Until then, play ball.
