Tucked away at the Field House at Veterans Memorial Field on a rainy Wednesday afternoon was the new coach of the Greenfield High School football team. Jeff Bengston accepted the position in late May.
Jacob Silvester originally took over for longtime coach Mike Kuchieski, but left soon thereafter for a job at Wilbraham & Monson. The opening paved the way for Bengston to secure the first varsity coaching job of his career. Bengston becomes the 22nd coach in Greenfield’s history.
“It leaves shoes to fill,” Bengston said. “Kuch (Kuchieski) ran a great program for a lot of years. We don’t have the kids that we used to have here. Back when he started we had 50 kids with a J.V. program and a middle school program. It’s big shoes to fill but change can be good. Give people a new look.”
Bengston got his coaching start with Turners Falls and their middle school team before joining the Franklin County Bulldogs youth program. He also coached the lineman for Greenfield the past two seasons.
“The freshman coming in I have been with since second grade,” Bengston said. “Hopefully we win a lot of games this year. Start off on a good note.”
Greenfield returns quarterback Gavin Arsenault. Kymel Ramsey is a burner who should reside in the backfield. Bengston hasn’t decided on an offense yet as available personnel could factor into the decision. He did hint that the ball could be in the air more often this season.
“It depends on who shows up on day one I guess,” Bengston said. “We are going to work a lot more on throwing the ball…we aren’t looking to go 40 yards at a time. We are looking to go four yards at a time. We’ll have the option to shoot for that 40 yards when the opportunity arises.”
As of July 29, the Green Wave has nine players signed up for football. By the beginning of the fall season, Bengston hopes for 30 players on the roster between Greenfield, Mohawk, Turners Falls and Pioneer.
“I am hoping we have 30,” Bengston said. “I think that would be a good goal to get to 30. If we had 40 it would blow my mind.”
Bengston went to high school in Brattleboro, Vt., before college at Western New England.
As the heavy rain poured down, three players went outside to run some routes. Casey Burke, Bryce Zraunig and Connor Bengston took to the field in preparation for the upcoming season.
Golf
Jesse Morgan IV won his eighth Club Championship at Northfield Golf Course on July 26. Morgan joined Garrett Plifka and Garrett Hasanbasic in a sudden death playoff after each competitor finished with a 145 after two days. Morgan eagled the first hole of the playoff to secure the win.
Jeff Holmes finished with a 131 to capture the Men’s Net Championship. Lori Walters won the Women’s Championship with a combined score of 170. Joan Fitzgerald won the Women’s Net Championship, shooting a 147 for the weekend.
Country Club of Greenfield
Women’s Match Play vs Flight: First Flight (matches won) — 1. Teresa Varner (6); 2. Jess Lapachinski (5); 3. Ellen Bitzer (4); Second Flight — T1: June Heideman, Irena McDonald, Susan Ruggeri (10); Nine Hole Flight — 1. Margo Worden (3); 2. Sally Bernard (2); 3. Barb Morris (1).
