Competitive team returns in 2018
Published in the September 7, 2018 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider golf team may be poised for a winning campaign this fall, thanks to off-season training by their top golfers, which includes some senior leaders and a group of talented sophomores. The team opens this week against Wilmington and Arlington, hoping to secure a win straight out of the gate.
“There is a lot of talent and potential here,” says longtime coach Rick McDermod. “Last season we had some heartbreaking, one-point losses but I really believe this year not only will those will be reversed, but we will see additional wins.”
Leading the team as captains are seniors Will Goodwin and Abby Spencer, two players the coach has had since sophomore year. “They are great leaders,” he says. “They know how to rally the troops and are conscientious kids.”
Fellow seniors Justin Crowley, Jay Tucci, Matt Rocha, Ryan Foote, Pat Coen and Zach McGuire will help lead the squad, who travels to Wilmington and Arlington this week before opening at home on September 20 against Burlington. One senior who caught McDermod’s eye in the early season is Crowley. “Justin had a great tryout and has hit the ball hard. He’s a big kid with a lot of power and recovers well,” says the coach.
McDermod has also seen tremendous progress from Sean Senier, who saw offseason training pay off this year. “He’s made incredible progress and has come out hungry. He spent so much time on the course over the summer, so I expect him in our top 5.”
Those battling for the two top spots are a pair of skilled golfers from last season: now sophomores Quinn McCarthy and Will Pierce, a duo who bring talent and golf I.Q. to the game thanks to offseason play at Bellevue Golf Club. In fact, Pierce recently competed as a fifteen year old in the men’s golf competition at the Club, only falling to the winner, according to McDermod. The two will vie for the #1 spot and it’s clear that the future is bright for these two.
Look for players like Pierce, McCarthy, Jay Tucci, Jack Crowley, Sean Senier and Will Goodwin to start out in the top five, but that lineup is always fluid as competition starts. Other names in the mix are junior Tim Healy, freshmen Brian Healy and a promising sophomore, Thomas Brodeur, whose father Nate, was a standout golf player under McDermod at MHS years ago. “This is a first for me, coaching a son of a former player. And Tom is a keeper, he’s very much like his dad. Has a bright future.”
While the ML is usually tough, McDermod likes where he stands within the Freedom League. Says the coach, “We face Wilmington this week, which, if all goes as planned, could be a winnable match for us.”
Despite the heat, the Raiders have enjoyed productive practice sessions over the last week. Melrose has held 6:30 a.m. tryouts and practices and recently took advantage of a quiet Labor Day late afternoon play at Mt Hood. The heat was no problem for the tough golfers.
And the next few days will be very telling, there are many opportunities for our players and things can change fast. Melrose doesn’t open at home until Sept. 20 when they face the Burlington Red Devils. In the meantime they face Arlington, Woburn and Watertown, teams Melrose could fare well against. This year, McDermod would like to see post season play, something he thinks the team is capable of.
“This team has great potential so I predict a good year. It’s always great to coach when you see the potential of the team. Either way it will be a fun season.”
Season Schedule
Wed 9/5/18 @ Wilmington 4
Thu 9/6/18 @ Arlington 4
Thu 9/13/18 @ Watertown 4
Mon 9/17/18 @ Woburn 4
Thu 9/20/18 v. Burlington, 4
Tue 9/25/18@ Belmont 4
Wed 9/26/18 v. Winchester, 4
Thu 9/27/18 @ Stoneham TBD
Wed 10/3/18 @ Wakefield 4
Thu 10/4/18 v. Lexington, 4
Wed 10/10/18 v. Reading, 4
Thu 10/11/18 v. Stoneham, 4