By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MIDDLETON — Danvers-North Reading co-op gymnastics head coach Jen Habeeb knew her squad faced an uphill battle in their season opener on Sunday as they had to take on powerful Masconomet. The Chieftains showed they are still the team to beat in the Cape Ann League-Northeastern Conference as they beat the host Falcons, 148.95- 135.8, at Yellow Jackets in Middleton.
“They have a lot of talent,” said Habeeb, about the Chieftains who won the state title in 2019 and 2020. “Our team had a good start but were missing a couple of girls due to injury. I am hoping that we will have them back for our next meet.”
Maddie Wescott led the Falcons a she was second on the bars (9.2) and in the all-around (36). She also was fourth on the balance beam with a score of 8.9.
Allie Taylor, a senior co-captain from North Reading, captured third on the beam with a score of 9.1.
Fellow senior co-captain, Emily Tobin, and 8th-grader Dianna Figueiredo had a three-way tie along with a Chieftains gymnast for third place on the floor exercise with a score of 8.4.
The next meet for the Falcons will take place on Jan. 9, also at Yellow Jackets as they host Bishop Fenwick at 1 p.m.
On Jan. 16, the Falcons will host Hamilton-Wenham as they return to league action. That meet will start at 9:30 a.m.
