If you’re wondering where many of the people of Montague, Gill and Erving are today, head to Worcester.
Chances are you’ll find plenty of local residents at Rockwood Field cheering on the Turners Falls High School softball team as the Indians play for another state championship. Turners Falls, which has an overall record of 23-1 going into the title tilt against Reading’s Austin Preparatory School (22-3), has an opportunity to put some more polish on a successful program.
Regardless of today’s outcome, Turners Falls softball has established itself as the gold standard not just for Franklin County but also for the entire state.
That’s a pretty significant accomplishment for any public school, let alone a high school where the enrollment now hovers around 270. While there are a number of factors that played into creating this success on the diamond, three factors stand out.
First, there are the student athletes who sign up to play. They bring not only athletic abilities but also a willingness to put in the hard work and preparation needed to pull off a successful season. Such success on the field is also dependent on teamwork, enthusiasm and a willingness to listen to the coaches.
This brings us to head coach Gary Mullins, who over the course of 37 years has been at the helm for more than 1,000 victories in girls softball, boys basketball and soccer. But it’s softball where Mullins seems to especially shine, with more than 630 wins. Consider that during all these spring seasons and with an ever-changing roster of girls, the Indians have never failed to finish above .500, in other words, no losing season or breaking even.
That alone is quite an accomplishment. And beyond the coaching acumen, Mullins clearly can connect to these girls as athletes, as students and as people. As he said recently, “I don’t think when you invest time in kids that it’s a bad thing.”
And the third component is the support behind the team. Whether it’s the families, the assistant coaches and other school staff or the community at large, they offer the encouragement and backing that is critical.
All together it’s a formula that to date has resulted in seven state championships. Today, there’s a chance to make it eight. That’s something that not just the school district but also the entire county can root for.