SENIOR CAPT. Lucy Hannon is among those who will lead the Melrose High gymnastics team when they open up on Jan. 7. (file photo)
Small but fierce Melrose team returns
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High gymnastics team has returned for pre-season training as they await the start of their season on Friday, Jan. 7 when they kick off against Winchester at home at the Saugus YMCA.
This year, Melrose is facing a more in-depth schedule and there will indeed be a Middlesex League meet and Sectional playoffs. Although fan attendance is currently limited to two spectators per athlete, Melrose can expect a longer and more productive season during their 9-meet season that stretches from January to mid-February.
Leading the Red Raiders will be returning senior captain Lucy Hannon and new captains Grace Burke and Katherine Carney. Expect Hannon to represent Melrose’s all-around, as she is adept at all four rotations. Talented senior Taylor Pesce also returns and will be a big presence on the floor and vault. Also returning this season are junior Sofia Pitcher and sophomores Grace Gentile and Raessler Guthrie. New faces include freshman Owen Mistretta and Maya Weissman and 8th grade-waived Isabella Ferranti and Katelyn Plourde.
Melrose has enough hands on deck this season to remain as competitive as always. “We’re focusing on building endurance and getting strong for the start of the season,” reports longtime Melrose coach Denise Valdez.
All signs point to Melrose having a strong vault routine this season, similar to last year. Gymnasts like Grace Burke, Owen Mistretta, Taylor Pesce, Lucy Hannon, Sophia Pitcher and Katherine Carney could see time at that rotation. In beam, look for returning starters Grace Gentile, Grace Burke and Lucy Hannon to compete while Katelyn Plourde may see time in the event. Floor could see a mix of efforts from Hannon, Burke, Pesce and other gymnasts. “It’s early and we’re trying out different routines for each gymnast,” reports the coach. And in bars, look for Burke, Hannon and Raessler Guthrie, among others, to represent Melrose in the event.
With weeks of practice in store, there’s no telling how this season will shape up when January arrives. In the meantime, this team is making every practice count as they train at the Saugus YMCA, focusing on increasing difficulty to routines and smoothing out sharp edges. As always, the competition will be fierce in the Middlesex League and Melrose will face a very strong Wakefield team and league-winner Reading.
They open at home on January 7 against Winchester at the Saugus YMCA at 7:00 p.m. Expect live streaming to make fan viewing all the more accessible, with details to be released at a later time.
