Published February 8, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider team were ten strong this season, a group of incredible hard workers who logged in more hours and competing in more races than many could imagine. They finished their season this week at the 2019 Middlesex League Meet held at Bentley University, where they earned 115 points.
Melrose saw some strong efforts by their relay teams, including their 200 medley team of Devin McDaid, Eamonn Burke, Sebastian Monzon and Ethan Prospere, who finished 6th at at time of 2:01.99, good enough for 26 points. Their 400 free relay also placed 6th behind the swims of Gabriel Wonton, Anderson Phan, Thiago Nunes, Devin McDaid.
TEN STRONG. Pictured from top left is Sebastian Monzon, Gabriel Monzon, Devin McDaid, Eamon Burke. Middle row: Anderson Phan, James Frederick, Miles Delgreco. Front: Cameron White Thiago Nunes and Ethan Prospere. (courtesy photo)
Miles Delgreco swam the 50 free and 100 breaststroke. Melrose was well represented in the 500 free behind the swims of Eamonn Burke and James Frederick. Devin McDaid had a particularly strong effort, cracking the top ten in the 100 back with a time of 1:07.25 and 7th in the 100 butterfly at 1:02.91. Melrose showed strength in the 100 free with Sebastian Monzon placing 13th, Gabriel Monzon 15th and Ethan Prospere 16th. Prospere also swam a solid time in the 100 back. Gabriel Monzon competed individually in the 200 free and 100 free. Thiago Nunes swam the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Cameron White swam the 50 free and 100 free. Anderson Phan also swam the 100 free.
Senior captain Eamomn Burke and Sebastian Monzon both had a great day. Monsoon swam a 25.44 in the 50 free and Burke placed 14th in the 200 IM.
Whitworth, aided by coach Vicky Brienza, credited those upperclassmen for their tremendous effort this season. “Eamonn and Sebastian have been swimming for me since their freshmen and sophomore years,” he said. “They’ve been great leaders for us, and have grown so much as swimmers. Eamonn does crew on the offseason has incredible endurance, so he came really far in distance swimming for us. Sebastian was a talented sprinter for us who had a great senior year. Both were instrumental in helping our younger swimmers.”
While Melrose was at times shorthanded on the pool deck, they went above and beyond expectations. “This team surpassed my expectations,” said the coach. “Having 9 or ten swimmers most of the season was a tall order, and for them to win a meet is pretty incredible. Not sure how they did it.”
With the deck stacked against them in numbers, the team made up for it with consistent personal improvement. Says the coach, “That was our goal this year, for all of our swimmers to improve their times and achieve personal bests, and they all did at the league meet. I couldn’t be more proud.”
