The Franklin Tech golf team has played its best under the brightest lights the last few seasons. 

The Eagles have reached the state tournament the past two years after strong showings at the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship — where they placed third as a team each season. 

Mike Duclos takes over for Sean Knightly as the Tech coach this fall. Duclos previously spent time coaching at Frontier and Greenfield, and will be looking to get the Eagles back to states for a third straight year. 

“So far from what I’ve seen — we’ve only had a few practices — I see we have four solid players that will give us some quality,” Duclos said. “Then, it’s a bunch of freshmen who I don't have a feel for yet.”

Those four players Duclos referenced were Gabe Mota, William Belval, Jackson Day and Braeden Talbot, and it’s easy to see why they’ve caught their new coach’s eye early. 

Mota and Belval are the veterans on the roster, and both have plenty of experience on the links heading into their senior season. Mota served as Franklin Tech’s No. 2 last year while Belval was a steady contributor in the lineup. Brady Booska — the 2022 Western Mass. Div. 3 individual champion — graduated, leaving the No. 1 spot up for grabs in the lineup. 

Talbot, a sophomore, was another consistent presence in the Eagles lineup as a freshman and is expected to take another step forward this fall. Day is entering his freshman year at Franklin Tech, but has plenty of experience in the high school golf world having played for Turners Falls the last few years asa middle schooler. He served as the Thunder’s No. 2 player last fall. 

“The two seniors, I’ll let them do their thing,” Duclos said. “They’re molded to who they’ll play. The younger kids, I’m trying to teach them and get them focused. Sportsmanship will be a key. We want to show up to a course and the opponent sees the Tech School has a good program that is respectful and plays a good match.” 

While qualifying for Western Mass. is the goal, the Eagles will also be looking to take home a Bi-County League East championship this fall after Turners Falls took the title last year. 

Helping the younger players on the roster could go a long way in doing that, and Duclos said he’s hoping he can relate to them as young golfers to get the best out of them. 

“When I first gave up coaching, it was for selfish reasons,” Duclos said. “I was golfing a lot myself but now that I’m older, it’s not as important. I still play but I understand what it takes to teach these younger kids and have patience with them. I used to be a crazy golfer like them and I can relate. Now, I’m just trying to steer them in the right direction on the course.” 

The Eagles will play their home matches at Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club in Turners Falls.

Here’s a closer look at how each team is shaping up heading into the season: 

 Athol

COACH: Brian Patria

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Independent/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 2-13

ROSTER: Ethan Heuer, Dominik St. Andre, Brandon Adams, Oliver Johnson, Owen Stoddard

OUTLOOK: The Bears brought back their golf program last year, with six new golfers learning the sport for the first time.

Heuer, St. Andre and Adams are those returners and will be look to build off their first year on the links.

Athol will play its home matches at Ellinwood Country Club.

 

Franklin Tech

COACH: Mike Duclos

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-6

ROSTER: William Belval, Jackson Day, Grady Deery, James Edson, Ayron Heimingway Jr., Gabe Mota, Arlo Spencer, Braeden Talbot, Evan Wright

 

Frontier

COACH: Dave Blanchette

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban West/2

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-12

ROSTER: Cam Skiffington, Melaina Winstom, Porter Hall, Matt Sibley, Ryan Cetto, Jacob Cornelison, Adelynn Wood, Tyler Galenski, Griffin Casey, Cameron Johnson, Brady Wood, Teddy McCarthy, Jamie McCarthy, Jacob Tomlinson, Christian Powell

OUTLOOK: Cetto was the lone member of the Redhawks to qualify for the Western Mass. Div. 2 tournament and is poised for a big junior year.

Skiffington, a senior, was often Frontier’s No. 2 a season ago while Adelynn Wood, a sophomore, had a strong year and is another to watch.

Frontier’s home matches will once again be played at Cherry Hill Golf Course in Amherst.

Mohawk Trail

COACH: Sean Doyle

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-10

ROSTER: Phineas Tuttman, Douglas Wilcox, Logan Moore, Deegan Kelleher, Tyler Zdanowicz, Sam Mizula, Conner Bergeron, Joei LaBelle, Gus Foote, Henry Clark, Cooper Morey

OUTLOOK: The Warriors are co-oping with Greenfield this fall, and new coach Sean Doyle takes over the program. 

Tuttman, Wilcox and Moore — all seniors — were at the top of the Mohawk Trail lineup a season ago and will be big contributors again this fall.

Bergeron, an eighth grader, saw time with the Green Wave last year and is another player to keep an eye on.

“The seniors are hungry to make the playoffs and compete for a chance to play in Western Mass.,” Doyle said. “We have some very solid high school golfers on the roster so it should be a good year. Our goal is to win our league.”

The team will play home matches at the Country Club of Greenfield.

Pioneer

COACH: River Kuhn

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 13-4

ROSTER: Brayden Thayer, Ben Werner, Ethan Mauthe, Cam Curtis, Michael Cyhowski, Carter Gerry, Chayton Massa, Tucker Aldrich, Parker Gerry, Liam Bassett, Corbin Pease

OUTLOOK: A strong regular season ended in disapointing fashion, as the Panthers were unable to punch a ticket to states while competing at Western Mass.

They’ll be looking to make another run at states this fall, with seniors Thayer and Werner back to lead the way at the top of the lineup.

“They return at the top of their game,” Kuhn said. “They’re ready and hungry as ever to have a big season and achieve things individually and as a team.”

Mauthe and Curtis, fellow seniors, return and are expected to be scorers in the Panther lineup.

Pioneer’s home course is Northfield Golf Club.

Turners Falls

COACH: Artie Burke

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 12-2

ROSTER: Darian Burnett, Liam Kerivan, Camden Cogswell, Austin Smarr, Andrew Eichorn, Rowan Deery, William Tyler, Noah Blanchard, Michael Heins

OUTLOOK: Folks in the area should be plenty familiar with Burke — a Turners Falls alum who has been a longtime official in the area. He takes over for Dave Kennedy, who retired from coaching after a lengthy career with the program.

The Thunder will have to replace Joey Mosca — who placed second at the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship — at the top of the lineup.

Burnett is the lone senior on the team and the lone high schooler, with the remaining eight players coming from the middle school ranks.

Kerivan, Cogswell and Smarr are the remaining returners for Turners, which will play home matches at Thomas Memorial.