It was a spring season that never happened.
While folks throughout Franklin County have been impacted over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, we here at the Recorder sports department have decided to honor all the senior student-athletes who were unable to participate in spring sports. Practices and games were canceled, championship trophies weren’t able to be chased, but the graduating seniors throughout our coverage area still deserve to have their stories told and be honored.
We will recognize all eight of our MIAA schools over the course of two weeks, with senior rosters, photos and information about them all.
We conclude today with Athol High School’s seniors. Here are their stories, as told by their coaches:
Seniors: Grace Dufour, Taylor Cleveland, Angelica Baptista
Three seniors make up the Class of 2020 on the girls’ track & field squad, and all three have been huge contributors across the Athol sporting landscape during their high school years.
Here’s what coach Kelly Kaczmarczyk had to say about her three seniors:
Dufour: “She was an asset on my team that will be missed. She was an athlete I could count on to get points for our team and I knew she would push herself every meet because she wanted to get to the next level and do well for our team. She was an all-around great athlete that could run as well as jump.”
Cleveland: “Even though she only did track for two years I knew I could count on her to score for our team if she was throwing a shot put or discus. I feel that if she had been doing track longer she could have really shown her talents for throwing and really been competitive at the next level.”
Baptista: “Geca had a natural talent for throwing a javelin. I only had her as an athlete for one year on the track team and it makes me sad that she did not get another year to try and improve her javelin throwing skills. She made it to Western Mass. in one year of throwing a javelin and I feel that she could have made it farther this year.”
Seniors: Anthony Marcucci, Logan Wing
Just two seniors on the boys’ track team, though both brought plenty to the table for the Red Raiders during their track careers under coach Bill LaRose.
“Anthony Marcucci is a kid who is a competitor of the highest order,” lauded LaRose. “He is hard-working and always looks for ways to make himself better. His winter (indoor) season was fantastic, and I know he was really looking forward to having the same success this spring, Marcucci defines the phrase ‘track athlete.’”
Wing was a discus thrower and shot putter, and LaRose called him “one of the most humble people I have ever met.”
“I am going to miss this young man tremendously,” the coach said. “The thing I will miss most about Logan has nothing to do with the athletics but everything to do with the word attitude. Logan is the ultimate team guy. He always helps others, he is the last one in the locker room cleaning, and he always has a smile on his face. He is an outstanding individual.”
Seniors: Colby Soltysik, Zack Aldrich, Matt Willhite, Matt Stevens, Parker Deleo, Colin Mahoney
It was slated to be a big season inside Mallet Gymnasium for the Red Raiders. A year removed from a chaotic season that began with coach Sean MacDonald having to step away for a stint due to health issues, a talented senior class and the return of the head coach were in store for 2020.
“I was so looking forward to our season and the opportunity to coach these seniors this spring,” explained MacDonald. “After a chaotic start to last season, including my health and a coaching change, along with a disappointing finish outside the playoffs, all of us were looking to make 2020 a successful season for Athol volleyball.”
Athol didn’t have a senior on the roster in 2019, which pushed Soltysik, Aldrich and Willhite into leadership roles as juniors. MacDonald expected that to carry into 2020. Soltysik was just short of 1,500 career assists as setter, and 2,000 helpers was not out of the question.
“They all deserved a senior night in front of a home crowd and didn’t get one,” said MacDonald. “I wish them the best in their futures and thank them for their contributions to Athol volleyball.”
Mahoney was set to come over from Narragansett, as the schools were participating in a cooperative program this spring.
Seniors: Nick Bousquet, Mark Ferrari, Maysin Tarbell, Bryce King, Riley Paine, Issach Bastine, Damian Fields
With a stacked senior class leading the way, the Red Raiders had visions of a deep postseason run in 2020. Head coach Josh Talbot was disappointed that his veteran crew was denied the opportunity to chase a championship this spring.
“In the end, this group had immense potential and aspirations of a Western Mass. title,” Talbot said. “Years of work and development toward a lengthy postseason run was stripped away from them and their teammates.”
Bousquet, a talented left-handed pitcher, was one of the top hitters in the Hampshire League during his time at Athol.
“On the mound, Nick is a tremendous competitor who always wants the ball in his hand,” lauded Talbot. “Offensively, he is the most complete hitter the program has had in the last 10 years.”
Ferrari is a dominant right-handed pitcher who was slated to be one of the top players in Western Mass. once again this spring.
“Mark has been on the radar for his arm over the entirety of his high school career and was poised for a big senior campaign,” Talbot said. “He made significant strides as an offensive and defensive player a year ago and was expected to be one of the premier two-way players in Division 3.”
Tarbell was set to patrol center field again, and Talbot had high hopes for another steady season.
“Maysin was a gold glove caliber center fielder with a rocket arm,” he said. “Offensively, he was inconsistent, but expected to fulfill his vast promise in his senior campaign.”
King returned to the scene after stepping away from the sport in sixth grade, and his resurgence helped light a fire under the Red Raiders a year ago.
“Bryce burst onto the scene as the heart and soul of our team,” said Talbot. “He worked tirelessly to improve his game and made the play of the year in our tournament victory over Easthampton in 2019. His leadership skills filled a void a year ago and he would have been the our spark plug again this spring.”
Paine, an infield stalwart, was set to see more innings on the mound during his senior season.
“Riley is fearless and smooth on the hot corner and plays the sport with passion,” said Talbot. “He would have been relied on more heavily as a pitcher in his senior season.”
Talbot was excited to see how Bastine would be able to carve his niche this spring.
“A loyal teammate who was working hard to enjoy a strong senior season,” the skipper said. “Shows strong offensive promise and missed the opportunity for a breakout spring.”
Fields was improving at second base, and Talbot expected he would’ve also made key contributions in 2020.
“Damian absolutely loves the game of baseball and worked incredibly hard to improve his skills at second base,” the coach said.
Seniors: Haley Bigwood, Jenna St. Cyr, Haley Wrigley
Another loaded senior class, the softball team was set to be in good hands with three veteran stalwarts set to lead the charge in 2020.
“These seniors sadly miss out on their last year of playing softball for the Athol Red Raiders,” began coach Sharon Chauvette. “They would have been leaders this year and it looked like a very promising year for the Lady Raiders. All three girls are hard workers and put the time in to becoming the players they are.”
It would have been the fourth year on varsity for Bigwood, who needed just three hits to reach 100 knocks for her career. A natural shortstop, Bigwood could have been slotted into any position to help Athol succeed this spring.
St. Cyr and Wrigley were both entering their third year of varsity softball, and would’ve held down the fort at the all-important hot corners this spring. St. Cyr was penciled in as the club’s starting third baseman while Wrigley was set to play first base. Both were reliable performers on and off the field.