After sting of second place, Masconomet gymnastics vaults back to the top, capturing fifth state championship since 2019

The Chieftans ensured they liked their result Saturday, jumping out to the lead on their first rotation, uneven bars.
They never relented, winning their fifth state title since 2019 with a team score of 149.05, 2 points ahead of runner-up Newton North at the state championships held at Algonquin Regional High School.
Sarah Aldrich finished third in the all-around for the Chieftains, who used their deep roster of high-level club gymnasts to compete in every event. Even senior Fallon Eberhardt, suffering from a leg injury that took her out of her club season and last weekend's North Sectionals, competed.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Masconomet's Sarah Aldrich scores a 9.5 on floor exercise.
— Kat Cornetta (@KatCornetta)
Advertisement
They dominated floor exercise with the highest team showing (37.475). Every apparatus showcased their perfect lines, straight legs, and pointed toes.
Masconomet finished the day on vault, with Janey Young up last. She had suffered a bloody nose prior to the rotation, and wasn't able to warm up. Vetzev checked in with her on the runway before her turn.
'The plan was to land one on our feet,' said Vetzev, 'and then go for the next one, and try and make it perfect.'
Young did just that, scoring a 9.65 to secure the Chieftains' victory.
Janey Young scores a 9.65 on vault for
— Kat Cornetta (@KatCornetta)
Last week, Newton North's balance beam rotation marred their South Sectional performance, dropping the top-ranked Tigers to second. Coach Cassie Ford said her team would spend the week before Saturday's championships fixing those mistakes.
It paid off in their second-place finish, with two gymnasts finishing in the top 10 of the all-around: seventh-place Sofia Dukakis and ninth-place Molly Haughton.
'They went into this week practicing like there was no tomorrow,' said Ford. 'They put in everything they had. We did so many beam routines. They just worked so hard.'
Janey Young is enveloped by her teammates after her title-clinching performance on the vault.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff/Erin Clark
A battle emerged between Danvers/Lynnfield and South Sectional champion Mansfield for third place. Danvers/Lynnfield had the best vault rotation of the day with a 37.65, and placed two gymnasts in the top four of the all-around, but Mansfield used their best performance of the season, with no major mistakes, to edge the Falcons by a mere 0.075 for third.
Advertisement
Sophie Moore and Bridget Boni led the Hornets with all-around scores in the high 35s.
In the all-around,
Central Catholic's Zinnia Hopkinson was the all-around winner.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff/Erin Clark
Kat Cornetta can be reached at

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Boston Globe

5 days ago

• Boston Globe

Laconia Motorcycle Week: The tradition lives on in New Hampshire

Here's a glimpse of some bikers who braved the rain, including old-timers who've been coming to the rally for decades and newcomers attending for the first time this year. Dave Holland of Delaware poses for a photo next to his bike during Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff He's checking another bike rally off his list Advertisement Dave 'Big Foot' Holland, 67, traveled over 400 miles from his home in Delaware on a 2007 Triumph Rocket to attend the Laconia Motorcycle Week for the first time this year. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up 'It does get up and go,' he said of the bike. Holland started riding motorcycles when he was 17, with about a 20-year hiatus while he was in the Air Force and married to a woman who disapproved. 'After we got divorced, I got my bike back,' he said. In that time, he's developed certain rules for the road. 'My standard rule is one beer per tire. I have two tires. I can have two beers. Second beer means I have to get something to eat,' he said. 'I want to live a little longer than my body allows.' Advertisement Bikers flock to New Hampshire for the Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach on June 17, 2025. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Kayla Labrie from Concord, N.H., wears heart-shaped glasses under her biker helmet. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Recent converts dreaming of road trips This was the first year Kayla Labrie, 28, of Concord, N.H., had been to bike week since she was a child. She came this year on a family excursion with her boyfriend, James Stone, 34, his mother Shirley Loranger, and his stepfather, John Loranger. She and Stone were was riding Stone's bike, a 1999 Harley-Davidson Road King that he's had for five years. Stone, a mechanic, said he's made a few updates, like adding hard bags, a radio, 'fat boy' rims, and underglow, lighting that illuminates the underside of the motorcycle. 'Just cosmetic stuff,' he said. Stone estimates he's driven the bike about 130,000 miles, mostly around New Hampshire and Maine. His dream? A long road trip out west on the historic Route 66. This is his fourth year coming to bike week, Stone said: 'Just good vibes, good times, good food.' James Stone stands with his 1999 Harley-Davidson Road King at Laconia Motorcycle Week. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff The longtime bike enthusiast On the first day of her vacation, the rain did not stop Shirley Loranger from traveling from Goffstown, N.H., to Laconia to check out the motorcycle rally on the back of a brilliant blue Harley-Davidson trike motorcycle. 'I love looking at all the different bikes,' she said. 'I enjoy the clubs and the patches and the colors. It's just cool, watching people relax and let loose at the same time.' Loranger, James Stone's mother, said she's been coming to the rally for three years, but her husband, John Loranger, has been coming since 1979. 'I was in a bike club back then, and it was crazy,' he said. 'Up and down Route 3, people camping on the side of the road, (running) their own bars on the side of the road.' Advertisement Since then, he said, the scene has mellowed. 'Now, it's just a place to come and see other people and enjoy the ride and enjoy the weather.' John Loranger said he's been riding bikes since he was 16, and he got his first Harley in 1977, a bike he's held on to but no longer rides because of injuries. Dave Holland of Delaware wears a Big Foot patch in reference to his own nickname while attending the Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach on June 17, 2025. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Phil and Gloria Dussault of Methuen, Mass., pose next to their bike during Laconia Motorcycle Week. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff He traded in two wheels for three Phil Dussault, 68, said he started coming to Laconia Motorcycle Week in 1995, about 20 years after he first began riding motorcycles in 1974. 'I got my motorcycle license before I got my car license,' he said. This year, he traveled from his home in Methuen, Mass., on a 2024 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra, after trading in his two-wheeler last year. Getting older, he said, the stability of three wheels seemed like a safer way to keep enjoying the sport he loves. 'The breeze in your face and just joy riding around is so much nicer on a motorcycle, even though it's dangerous,' he said. Decorations adorn the thousands of bikes at Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Business owner Thomas Brown sits under an umbrella in front of his store on the main drag of the Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach on June 17, 2025. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Amanda Gokee can be reached at

Boston Globe

7 days ago

• Boston Globe

MIAA championship photos: See the best shots from state title showdowns

Boys' volleyball Brookline boys' volleyball ends 33-year championship drought. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Brookline's Kristaps Vaivars (right) was one of the stars of Brookline's state title win. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 1: Brookline 3, Needham 1 Agawam was flying high after taking down Wayland in the Division 2 championship. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Agawam coach Kevin Pender (right) hugs star player Joe Culhane (left) after they claimed a Division 2 state championship. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Division 2: Agawam 3, Wayland 1 Girls' flag football The St. Mary's girls' flag football team repeated as champion at BC's Alumni Stadium. Alexa Podalsky St. Mary's 14, Leominster 13 Girls' lacrosse Concord-Carlisle's Karleigh Mutch had somewhere to go with the Division 1 girls' lacrosse state championship trophy. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Westford Academy players and their coach console each other after a title game defeat. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Division 1: Concord-Carlisle 8, Westford 6 Walpole captain Jenna Wong (right) embraces teammate Maran Gallivan (12) after their victory. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Walpole players rush onto the field to celebrate their state championship. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 2: Walpole 16, Reading 11 Medfield celebrates its Division 3 girls' lacrosse title. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Medfield captain Michaela McDonald (18) looks to make a pass. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Medfield celebrates with fans after a state title win. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 3: Medfield 18, Newburyport 8 Norwell players storm the field after winning the Division 4 girls' lacrosse title. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Norwell's Margot Bonnevie fights through traffic against Cohasset. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Norwell celebrates after the final whistle. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Division 4: Norwell 9, Cohasset 8 Baseball Chelmsford's Jack Keyo is fired up during the Division 1 title game. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Chelmsford's Aidan Brackett could hardly believe it. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Chelmsford lifts the trophy. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Division 1: Chelmsford 8, Braintree 2 (9 innings) Walpole's Richie Hayes (right) lays out but can't make the grab. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Walpole's Cole Pileski (center) scored a crucial run during the comeback. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Walpole celebrates on the field. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Division 2: Walpole 7, Reading 6 Players from North Reading celebrate after their win against Arlington Catholic at the MIAA Division 3 baseball finals at Polar Park in Worcester, MA. North Reading defeated Arlington Catholic 10-3. (Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe) 14SCHBASEBALL Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe North Reading's Jason Curran celebrates at second base. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Division 3: North Reading 10, Arlington Catholic 3 Advertisement Millbury players celebrate the school's first baseball title in 41 years. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Millbury's Ryan Nikiforow delivers a pitch against Lynnfield. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Millbury players embrace after their state title win. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Division 4: Millbury 3, Lynnfield 2 Pioneer Valley defeated defending champ English, 6-5, with a walk off in the bottom of the eighth inning. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Pioneer Valley Regional's Evan Tsipenyuk stretches for the ball at first base, but the throw is late. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Pioneer Valley Regional players pose for photos after winning the state title. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Pioneer Valley 6, English 5 (8 innings) Softball Taunton completed a perfect season with its fifth straight Division 1 softball championship. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Taunton's Catherine Larson pitches against Wachusett. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Nobody can touch Taunton softball. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 1: Taunton 10, Wachusett 4 Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Silver Lake players show off their new hardware to their fans at Worcester State. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Silver Lake players rush the diamond to celebrate their championship. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Silver Lake pitcher Delaney Moquin sports an oversized hat in the dugout after shutting out Bedford. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 2: Silver Lake 4, Bedford 0 Dighton-Rehoboth was overjoyed to go back-to-back in Division 3. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Dighton-Rehoboth players celebrate on the field. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Dighton-Rehoboth players sported some wigs in the dugout. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 3: Dighton-Rehoboth 7, Greater New Bedford 0 A third-straight Joseph Case softball season ended by hoisting a Division 4 trophy. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Joseph Case center fielder Meghan Pereira made a huge diving catch in the final. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Joseph Case's Alyana DeJesus launches a home run. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 4: Joseph Case 7, Tyngsborough 6 Division 5: Boys' lacrosse For a half decade, St. John's Prep has ruled Division 1 boys' lacrosse. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo St. John's Prep's Cam McCarthy kisses the trophy. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo St. John's Prep's Luke Kelly (right) and Owen White (left) celebrate with their team. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 1: St. John's Prep 8, BC High 7 (OT) Billerica goalie Nolan Heffernan led his team's celebration after the Indians captured their first boys' lacrosse state title since 2001. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Billerica attack Braden Martin celebrates a goal against Reading. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Billerica celebrates with fans after winning the title. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 2: Billerica 17, Reading 16 As the final buzzer sounded, the Scituate boys' lacrosse team piled on to celebrate its 9-4 victory over Falmouth for the MIAA Division 3 title at Mass. Maritime Academy. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Scituate celebrates at the final buzzer. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Scituate captain Willy Robinson celebrates a goal against Falmouth. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 3: Scituate 9, Falmouth 4 Norwell finished off the 2025 boys' lacrosse season by sending its equipment airborne amid a celebration for winning the Division 4 championship. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Norwell's Bret Amorosino protects the ball in the championship game. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Norwell senior Joey McCarthy raises the trophy. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Division 4: Norwell 11, Cohasset 6 Rugby BC High's Mikey Smith exalts with the trophy after defeating Xaverian, 13-7, in the Division 1 boys' rugby championship. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff BC High and Xaverian contest a line-out. Debee Tlumacki BC High celebrates its title. Debee Tlumacki Division 1 boys: BC High 13, Xaverian 7 Hanover captain Lochlan Garvey (right) is overcome with emotion as he celebrates with teammate Juneau Mofford. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Hanover Aidan Bourin skips away from a tackle. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Hanover's Matthew Bellerby tries to escape the grasp of Brookline Benji Brooks. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Division 2 boys: Hanover 59, Brookline 7 Belmont captain Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald hoisting the trophy with coach Kate McCabe after they defeated Lincoln-Sudbury, 69-21, at Curry College. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Belmont's Anoush McCarthy scores a try against Lincoln-Sudbury. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Belmont celebrates with the trophy. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Girls: Belmont 69, Lincoln-Sudbury 21 Track and field The state championship track meets wrapped up in the final weekend of May. Ainsley Cuthbertson fired Lexington to a state title. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Westfield Academy's Ryan Daly is pictured moments before setting the state record in the 400-meter hurdles. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Division 1: Lexington girls, Lowell boys Algonquin senior Benoit Skilton misses his attempt at 14 feet in the pole vault. Laura White/Algonquin High School Dana Lehr of Belmont (right) and Charlotte Tuxbury (left) of Wellesley embrace after finishing first and second, respectively, in the girls' mile. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Division 2: North Andover girls, Peabody boys Advertisement With a few seniors prioritizing the state meet over graduation, the Walpole boys' track team won the Division 3 state title at Westfield State. Evan Walsh The Billerica girls' track team finished off a banner weekend with the Division 3 state title at Westfield State. EVAN WALSH Division 3: Billerica girls, Walpole boys Groton-Dunstable's Greyson Duane takes the title in the mile. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Greater Lawrence Tech's Elizardo Melenciano took home the hurdles. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Division 4: Amherst-Pelham girls, Wakefield boys The Weston boys handily won the 2025 Division 5 outdoor track and field championship. AJ Traub The North Reading girls' track team captured the 2025 Division 5 title at Westfield State. AJ Traub Division 5: North Reading girls, Weston boys Division 6: Mount Greylock girls, Ayer-Shirley boys New England Championships Girls' golf Wellesley golfers (from left) Jenna Saini, Alika Lavu, Denise Pan and Ruby Savarese won the girls' golf title in May. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Wellesley's Ruby Savarese tees off. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe State champion: Wellesley Boys' tennis St John's Prep's Jack Prokopis celebrates a point against Lexington. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Meet Vinny! Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Division 1: St. John's Prep 3, Lexington 1 | Nicholas Gallagher (left) and Lucas Pratt of Duxbury celebrate a point against Westborough. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Division 2: Duxbury 5, Westborough 0 | Bedford's Spencer Goss returns a forehand. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Winston Starrett Jr. of Weston stretches for a backhand. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Division 3: Bedford 4, Weston 1 | Jack Cummins of Manchester-Essex reaches for a backhand against Lynnfield. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Manchester-Essex players celebrate after winning the title. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Division 4: Manchester Essex 3, Lynnfield 2 | Girls' tennis Wellesley players celebrate after winning the state title. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Wellesley players celebrate the state title. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Division 1: Wellesley 3, Lexington 2 | Isabella Camacho of Wayland delivers a serve against Longmeadow. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Longmeadow just edged Wayland in Division 2. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Division 2: Longmeadow 3, Wayland 2 | Dover-Sherborn celebrates its 5-0 sweep of Martha's Vineyard for its first girls' state championship since 2009. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Division 3: Dover-Sherborn 5, Martha's Vineyard 0 | Hamilton-Wenham captain Naomi Provost returns a ball during the final. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Hamilton-Wenham team captains Naomi Provost (center) and Olivia Romans (right) hoist the trophy. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Division 4: Hamilton-Wenham 5, Manchester Essex 0 | Amin Touri can be reached at

Boston Globe

7 days ago

• Boston Globe

With 2026 Boston Marathon registration opening in September, a major qualifying rule change is coming for 2027

Qualifiers from races featuring 1,500 feet to 2,999 feet of net-downhill elevation change will effectively have five minutes added to their times, while qualifiers from races with from 3,000 to 6,000 feet of net downhill will have 10 minutes added to their times. Advertisement The change comes as the BAA tries to meet ever-increasing demand into the world's oldest marathon, 'We looked at the data over four years, not just a snapshot,' BAA CEO Jack Fleming told the Globe. 'The data analysis told us that there was an advantage for runners who were using the downhill races in terms of their overall performance, and specifically when it came to achieving the qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon.' Advertisement But as demand hits unprecedented highs in the post-COVID running boom, Implementing the new time indexes for 2027, Fleming said, seeks to give runners plenty of time to adjust. 'We wanted to give runners ample, long lead time,' Fleming said. 'We know that runners, marathoners, look way out into the distance — figuratively and literally, I guess — and make their schedules. They think about their schedules, not just from one marathon to another but what they may be doing over the next year or two years. 'So this is the first such adjustment index for net-downhill races. And therefore, in addition to the ample time, we are getting going with it and committing to what these adjustments, the index, will be for two years — with the idea and the intention of continuing to analyze the performances that occur on net-downhill races.' Runners crest Heartbreak Hill at the 2025 Boston Marathon. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Rules governing elevation profiles in the marathon aren't unheard of. The US Olympic Marathon Trials, which brings together the 400 or so best marathoners in the country to select the American team for the Olympics every four years, limits the downhill drop of qualifying courses to the 460 feet or so of net decline you'd find in Boston. But among its World Marathon Major peers, and as the race with the most sought-after entry in the world of serious amateur marathoning, the BAA is taking an unprecedented step to ensure fairness in its qualifying process. With the Boston Marathon's place at the forefront of the industry, there's some pressure to get those big decisions right. Advertisement 'Yes, the simple answer is yes,' Fleming said when asked if the BAA feels that pressure. 'We were really on the one hand, mindful, and on the other hand, respectful of an individual's plan or motivations or attempts to run the Boston Marathon — not just marathoners who were participating and posting performances at downhill races — but we're continuing to see the overall demand increase. So the adjustment, the index, does recognize the overall demand into the Boston Marathon. And even, of course, we have the overall qualifying times standards, which are being adjusted for [2026]. 'But when we consider all of the folks who are wanting to run the Boston Marathon, we wanted to be fair to them, as well. We didn't want there to be an unfair advantage for those who were selecting a net-downhill race specifically for the purpose of running the Boston Marathon.' Amin Touri can be reached at