Published in the March 14, 2018 edition
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
DERRY — Last Saturday, the Masconomet-Lynnfield co-op gymnastics team competed in the New England’s for the first time at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire. The Chieftains ended up coming in fifth place out of 11 teams with a total score of 140.750.
Bridgewater-Raynham-West Bridgewater, who won the state title last week, was first again with a score of 145.150.
“It is a little different meet than we are used to,” said Chieftains head coach Chelsea O’Hara. “The girls enjoyed it though.”
Freshman sensation, Gracie Mowers, came in fifth overall in the all-around with a score of 36.55. She had a 9.425 in the vault, a 9.325 on the bars, a 9.05 on the balance beam and a 8.75 on the floor exercise.
Mowers was also recently named the MVP of the Cape Ann League-Northeastern Conference this year. Sophomores, Nicole Bonacorso and Catherine Dinanno, were also CAL-NEC All-Stars in the all-around. It is the second year in a row both girls made the team.
Miranda Marks, a senior, made the league all-stars for the second year in a row in the vault while sophomore, Kyra Flak, made the all-stars for the first time on the bars.
“I was proud of all of them,” said O’Hara, who just completed her fourth year at the helm.
The Chieftains will lose four seniors to graduation including Marks, Ryder Burliss, Lyiah Paine and Hannah Callahan.
“They were a great bunch of leaders and I am sad to see them go,” admitted O’Hara.
Next year, the team should be the favorites to win the league again as they are slated to return 22 veterans.
“We should be in very good shape next year,” said O’Hara.
This was the best year in the team’s history as they won the league title for the first time in seven years going a perfect 8-0. They then came in second place to Reading in the North Sectionals and then captured third place in the MIAA State Finals Tournament on March 3 to qualify for New England’s.
