LYNNFIELD — For their accomplishments in the classroom and their respective athletic endeavors, a pair of Lynnfield natives – track star Eli Mendese and girls hockey standout Chloe Gromko – have been chosen as the Moynihan Lumber Student-Athletes of the Month for January.
Mendese has just about done it all when it comes to his indoor track and field events. The only things weighing him down could be the medals around his neck.
The Cape Ann League Baker Most Valuable Player broke school records in high jump, long jump, individual points, and the pentathlon. Mendese qualified for nationals in high jump, ranked No. 1 in Division 5 for the pentathlon, and was named Team MVP by Lynnfield’s coaching staff.
But if you ask the jumper, that doesn’t compare to the camaraderie he feels within the program.
“My favorite part about representing Lynnfield Athletics has been the amount of friends that I have made through the sport,” Mendese said. “Being able to come together as a team and help lead people to be the best they can possibly be has been amazing to feel.”
Mendese – who committed to Trinity College (early acceptance) to continue his track career – picked up the sport toward the end of his freshman year.
“I got into track and field during the spring of my freshman year of high school,” said Mendese, who sports a 3.7 GPA. “I first looked at it as just a simple hobby, but soon fell in love with it.”
Mendese’s favorite class is microeconomics – a field he wishes to pursue at Trinity.
When asked about the balance between academics and athletics, he kept it honest.
“It’s proven to be very difficult,” Mendese said. “When I first started high school, I had a lot of trouble with balancing the two, but as I’ve grown older, I have been able to find the perfect balance, which has been proven on my report cards and my PRs (personal records) on the track.”
It doesn’t stop there for Mendese, a part-time worker who volunteers with summer camps, charity work, middle-school track, as well as clothing and toy drives.
But at the end of the race, it all pays off.
“Being named the Moynihan Student-Athlete of the Month means so much to me,” he said. “A true accomplishment that I’m extremely grateful for.”
On the ice, Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading Coach Michelle Roach said Gromko was “nothing short of exceptional this season,” one that ended in the Round of 16 at the hands of Archbishop Williams Saturday.
Gromko kicked off the new year in style, compiling eight goals, seven assists, and three game-winning goals in January. At one point, the left-hander registered points in 12 of 14 games.
“I started playing hockey in second grade,” said Gromko, also a varsity athlete in field hockey and lacrosse. “As I continued to play, I loved it even more. I can’t imagine not playing.”
Goal celebrations aside, Roach nearly ran out of adjectives to describe Gromko as a leader.
“Steadfast, vocal, and unwaveringly committed to her teammates,” Roach said. “She is the player who holds others accountable, the voice of encouragement in the locker room, and the first to step up in moments of adversity. She doesn’t do the right thing because people are watching; she does it because it’s simply who she is.”
Psychology and literature are Gromko’s favorite classes in a course load that includes statistics, physics, U.S. history, and advanced art.
“It’s a lot, but it’s fun. I like all my teachers and everyone’s so nice, so you can always get help,” said Gromko, who’s undecided on a college but interested in international business. “When I get free time, I try to focus on getting work done. I haven’t always been good at time management, but as I’ve gotten older, teachers have helped me get better at it.”
Not only does she maintain a 3.8 GPA, but is an active member of Connor’s Kindness, Habitat for Humanity, the Sunrise Club, and Compass (a senior leadership program). She also dedicates her time assisting a youth girls hockey team.
“She’s not only an elite athlete, but a role model who makes a lasting impact on her teammates, peers, and the community,” Roach said.
