Cracks top five; sure to be a force next year
Published November 23, 2018
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was nearly a flawless season for the Melrose High girls’ cross country team, who finished a 4-1 regular season and on Saturday, November 10, competed in their best-ever showing at the Div. 4 State Finals in Wrentham, where they placed fifth, missing All States by one spot.
Their impressive finish, coupled with the number of underclassmen who competed, is a great indication of this team’s prospects in 2019. Melrose coach Nick Tuccinardi was beyond proud of their efforts.
“It was our highest finish ever as a team but due to some bad luck with the way the wild card works we, unfortunately, did not advance. The girls performed incredibly, so many of them ran above expectations and while we were waiting to find out whether or not we would advance I told them, ‘It doesn’t matter what happens next, we are so proud of your effort and could not ask for any more. Regardless of the outcome, we should all leave here with our heads held high for running how we did.”
MELROSE HIGH Cross country captains (incoming and current) celebrate at the year’s recent banquet. They are pictured from left: coach Nick Tuccianardi, Alex Cotugno, Ashley Palmer, Sarah Mackowski, Emily Healey, Nicola Tysall, coach Shannon Kane, Victoria Ackerman and Katie Duffy. (courtesy photo)
Finishing near the top of the pack on Saturday was freshmen standout Charlotte Tysall, who finished 17th out of 148 runners at a time of 20:24.05. Her teammate, junior Katie Duffy was right up there with her, 21st at 20:34.54. Their efforts impressed their coach. “Charlotte has been an exceptional young runner who is still learning how to race, she’s spent so much time in the front of that pack that she now has to adjust to run in a bigger field, she is smoothly making that transition,” says the coach. “Katie spent so much of this year injured but every day she was either at the trainer or at physical therapy, I have never seen a runner who rehabbed so diligently. He hard work and dedication is a shining example for the rest of us.”
Melrose’s Kate Bidgood also had a solid race with a 36th place finish. Also running at the top of the pack were junior Alex Cotugno (41), freshman Molly Lytje (56) and sophomore Marissa Welten (59).
Having so many runners crack the top 50 helped Melrose secure 56 points and a fifth-place finish behind teams such as Newburyport, Foxborough, Westwood and winner Nauset.
There was more reason to celebrate. Recently, the team gathered for their year-end banquet where they named All-Stars, captains and passed out awards. Those who earned All-Star honors were junior Jane Harrington, Kate Bidgood, freshmen Charlotte Tysall and junior Alex Cutugno (the second honor for her.) Tobey Russell won the team Freshman Award, Jane Harrington won Most Improved and Charlotte Tysall won Team MVP.
Having completed a nearly flawless season and being so close to an All States appearance, and with such a talented returning roster, there is a true sense that Melrose might return in 2019 a ranked team. With a three-year long winning tradition, and being denied the league title each time, there is certainly a sense of unfinished business. In three years, Melrose has compiled a 12-3 league record and missed out on three undefeated seasons by only 4 points total. Says Tuccinardi, “We’re eager and excited to get over the hump and make it to the next level.”
To get there, Melrose will rely on everything they learned from their departing seniors who brought so much success to the program. They include: Kate Bidgood, Emily Healy, Sarah Mackowski, Nicola Tysall, Sarina Peters, Maya Lytje, Annie Kavanaugh, Ciara Holmberg, Abby Champoux, Mia Catalini, Abigail Bryer and Alice Blais. Says the coach, “These seniors were also my first freshmen class as a teacher, so they’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Raider Runners are built on a foundation crafted by former Raider Runners, we are nothing without all those who have run before and we are forever grateful to our 12 seniors who will now join our Raider Runner Alumni Family. Best of luck to all of our seniors on their future endeavors.”
