The Franklin Tech golf team has performed its best under the bright spotlight over the past few seasons.

The Eagles have reached the state championships the past two years following strong performances in the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship, where they finished third as a team each season.

Mike Duclos will take over from Sean Knightly as Tech coach in the fall. Duclos previously coached at Frontier and Greenfield and will try to bring the Eagles back to the states for the third consecutive year.

“From what I’ve seen so far – we’ve only had a few training sessions – I have four solid players who will give us quality,” said Duclos. “Then there are a few newcomers who I don’t have a feel for yet.”

The four players Duclos was referring to were Gabe Mota, William Belval, Jackson Day and Braeden Talbot, and it’s easy to see why they caught their new coach’s attention early on.

Mota and Belval are the veterans on the roster, and both have plenty of experience on the links heading into their final seasons. Mota was Franklin Tech’s No. 2 player last year, while Belval was a staple in the lineup. Brady Booska — the 2022 Western Mass. Div. 3 individual champion — has graduated, so the No. 1 spot in the lineup is still up for grabs.

Talbot, a sophomore, was another staple 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 as a middle schooler the past few years. He was the Thunder’s No. 2 player last fall.

“The two older players, I’m letting them do their thing,” Duclos said. “They’re prepared for who they’re going to play against. The younger kids, I’m trying to teach them and focus them. Sportsmanship is going to be key. We want to show up at a class and the opponent sees that Tech School has a good program, is respectful and plays a good game.”

While qualifying for Western Mass. is the goal, the Eagles also want to take home the 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 hopes he can empathize with them as young golfers to get the best out of them.

“When I gave up coaching, I had selfish reasons,” Duclos said. “I played a lot of golf myself, but now that I’m older, it’s not as important. I still play, but I know what it means to teach these younger kids and be patient with them. I used to be a crazy golfer like them and I can relate. Now I just try to steer them in the right direction on the course.”

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

Here’s a closer look at how each team is doing at the start of the season:

Athol

TRAINER: Brian Patria

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Independent/3

Last year’s record: 2-13

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

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

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

Athol will play its home games at Ellinwood Country Club.

Franklin Technology

TRAINER: Mike Duclos

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

Last year’s record: 9-6

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

Border

TRAINER: Dave Blanchette

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburb West/2

Last year’s record: 6-12

SERVICE SCHEDULE: 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 only member of the Redhawks to qualify for the Western Mass. Div. 2 tournament and is headed for a big junior year.

Skiffington, a senior, was often Frontier’s No. 2 last season, while Adelynn Wood, a sophomore, had a strong year and is also a player to keep an eye on.

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

Mohawk Trail

TRAINER: Sean Doyle

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

Last year’s record: 7-10

SERVICE SCHEDULE: 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 will work with Greenfield this fall, with new coach Sean Doyle taking over the program.

Tuttman, Wilcox and Moore – all seniors – led Mohawk Trail’s lineup last season and will be major contributors again this fall.

Bergeron, an eighth-grader, played for the Green Wave last year and is another player to keep an eye on.

“The seniors are desperate to get into the playoffs and are fighting 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’s home games are played at the Country Club of Greenfield.

pioneer

TRAINER: River Kuhn

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

Last year’s record: 13-4

SERVICE SCHEDULE: 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 disappointment as the Panthers failed to qualify for the state championships when they played in Western Mass.

They will look to make another run at the state championships this fall, with seniors Thayer and Werner again leading the lineup.

“They’re back in top form,” Kuhn said. “They’re ready and hungry as ever to have a great season and to accomplish something individually and as a team.”

Mauthe and Curtis, also seniors, return and are expected to be goal scorers in the Panthers’ lineup.

Pioneer’s home course is Northfield Golf Club.

Turner’s Falls

TRAINER: Artie Burke

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East/3

Last year’s record: 12-2

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

OUTLOOK: People in the area will be familiar with Burke – a Turners Falls graduate who has been a longtime area official – who succeeds Dave Kennedy, who retired from coaching after a long career with the program.

The Thunder must replace Joey Mosca, who finished second at the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship, at the top of the lineup.

Burnett is the only senior on the team and the only high school student; the remaining eight players are middle school players.

Kerivan, Cogswell and Smarr are the remaining returnees for Turners, who will play their home games at Thomas Memorial.