Mostly clear. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..
Mostly clear. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: December 8, 2022 @ 3:22 pm
Andover’s Rose Memmolo, right, battles North Andover’s Elizabeth McCabe for possession earlier this fall. Despite dealing with the daily challenges of Type 1 Diabetes, Memmelo has emerged as a star on defense.
Andover’s Rose Memmolo chases after a ball during a game this fall. Memmolo has Type 1 Diabetes, and wears an insulin pump during games.
Rose Memmolo
Andover’s Rose Memmolo, right, battles North Andover’s Elizabeth McCabe for possession earlier this fall. Despite dealing with the daily challenges of Type 1 Diabetes, Memmelo has emerged as a star on defense.
Andover’s Rose Memmolo chases after a ball during a game this fall. Memmolo has Type 1 Diabetes, and wears an insulin pump during games.
Rose Memmolo
Each and every game — and even a routine practice — requires detailed planning for Andover field hockey star Rose Memmolo.
It’s not just the demands of her position, as the backbone of a Golden Warrior defense that has surrendered just six total goals and earned 18 shutouts this fall on the way to a state title.
Memmolo is a Type 1 diabetic, and plenty of planning is required before she even touches the field.
“I start to prepare my food intake three hours before a game,” said Memmolo, “and make sure that within those three hours I am eating as little carbs as possible. Closer to game time, I look to see where my levels are again, and if I notice it is dropping I will go to my secret weapon, honey! This has worked very well to get me to safe levels by game time.”
That strategy proved highly effective this fall.
Memmolo, a junior, emerged as a rock at sweeper, and a standout midfielder when called upon, for the Andover field hockey team, which finished 22-1-0 and beat Walpole 1-0 for its second straight Division 1 state championship.
“It meant everything to win another title because of all the hard work we have put in throughout the year and for our seniors to go out as state champions,” said Memmolo. “We were very excited to have this opportunity again.”
One of the key reasons for that success has been the contributions of Memmolo. But it wasn’t long ago that it was a struggle for her to even practice.
“Rose is an amazing defender who gets too little credit,” said Golden Warriors head coach Maureen Noone. “She is also such a well-rounded person. Last year was a real struggle for her to practice, let alone play in a game! It really is so impressive how she handles (her diabetes).”
Memmolo’s diabetes journey officially began when she was diagnosed as a 10-year-old.
“Type 1 diabetes is when your pancreas no longer produces insulin which converts food into energy,” said Memmolo. “I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was 10-years-old. I have been faced with all sorts of challenges, one being regulating my blood sugar.
“If my blood sugar is low my brain gets foggy and I feel really weak. And if it’s high I feel the effects of my body working harder than it should be. Both of these make it hard for me to play physically and mentally.”
Those struggles continued into her sophomore field hockey season. But she has made major progress.
“I was having a much tougher time last year getting my blood sugar to stay in a safe range, which made it extremely difficult for me to get through a full practice or game without having to sit out,” she said. “This year I am working with a sports nutritionist and moved to a new insulin pump that communicates with my glucose monitor by sending instructions based on my blood sugar levels.”
With the aid of her pump, monitor, and friends helping out, Memmolo has emerged as one of the premier defenders in the Merrimack Valley Conference. She even chipped in at midfielder when 2021 Eagle-Tribune MVP Emma Reilly was injured.
“Moving to midfield when Emma was hurt was a lot of pressure knowing what shoes I had to fill,” she said. “I am thankful for my amazing coaches who trusted me. It was interesting, but I was more than happy to move back to defense.
“The main role of a sweeper is to be the last line of defense. I’m there to make it difficult for attackers to get shots off and protect my goalie.”
TWITTER: DWillisET
TWITTER: DWillisET
Andover High field hockey goalie Adelaide Weeden may have, at times, gone games without needing to make a save this season thanks to a dominant defense in front of her. But whether she’s making stops or keeping spirits high, she’s always come through for the Golden Warriors, who face Walpole in the Division 1 title game on Saturday.
“In a lot of the games I didn’t even touch the ball,” she said. “Obviously as someone who is on the field, I like to stay active and make sure I’m being supportive, cheering, making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. I like to make sure as a leader I’m keeping the energy up”
“I feel like there is more of a mental challenge than physical challenge (facing shots after a long wait). I get a lot of practice during warm-up and practice, but it comes down to that kind of mental strength of knowing that you’re the last chance to stop the goal. You really have to zone in on that mindset more in those situations.”
A senior, second-year starter, Weeden turned in four huge saves in Wednesday’s 2-1 Division 1 semifinal win over Shrewsbury.
Now she hopes to lock down a second straight D1 state title.
“Obviously the big goal is to win, said Weeden. “But win or lose I want me and the rest of the girls to go in knowing that we’ve put in the most effort throughout this battle. I want to make sure we all stick together as a team and give up a good fight. The hope is to make sure everyone comes out of the game feeling proud of the way they played”
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