Two years ago, Frontier’s Jack Vecellio captured an all-state title in the pole vault while Greenfield’s Liviu Mihailicenco won a state championship in the high jump. On the girls side, Greenfield’s Tess Rancourt placed third at New Englands in the shot put while Mahar’s Sienna Moore won the MIAA Div. 6 pole vault title. 

It was a historic year in the area, and after the graduations of those four, the Recorder area did not have a state champ last spring.

Will that change this year? There’s plenty of candidates. 

Frontier’s Aiden Dredge and Mahar’s Stellina Moore are the lone returners who qualified for the Meet of Champions a year ago, Dredge placing 12th in the javelin while Moore came in 14th in the pole vault. Dredge, a senior, will be looking to close out his career with the Redhawks by bringing home some hardware while Moore, now a freshman, will look to follow in her sister’s footsteps and take home a Div. 6 title. 

Looking at this past indoor season, a pair of locals nearly took home MIAA Div. 5 titles. Mohawk Trail’s Chay Mojallali hit the mark of 6 feet, 2 inches in the high jump to take second on the boys side while Pioneer’s Louise Flagollet placed second in the high jump on the girls side with a height of 5-2. 

Mohawk Trail freshman Virginia Krezmien qualified for the Nike Indoor Nationals in the mile this past winter while Frontier freshman Evan Hedlund competed at Nike Outdoor Nationals last summer. Both are young athletes who should shine this spring. 

In terms of the Intercounty League, will anyone be able to beat Frontier in a meet? The Redhawk girls went 7-0 last year while the Frontier boys went 6-0, both capturing league titles. Both teams took second at the Western Mass. Div. 2 meet.

Here’s a closer look at each squad:

Athol

BOYS COACH: Fred Marks

GIRLS COACH: Sarah Swan

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: n/a

GIRLS ROSTER: Karleigh Chase, Peace Osoro, Piper Bailey, Natalie Smith, Sydnee Grenier, Emily Abram, Gabrielle Theriot, Taylor Gogan, Mia Reed, Bronwyn Whitney, Yaillis Hernandez, Mya Balins, Rylee Paul

OUTLOOK: Chase is the lone returner who qualified for states a season ago, doing so in the shot put. She placed 22nd in the event. Bailey, a freshman, had a strong season in the long jump, high jump and hurdles. Chase and Bailey hope to lead a young Bears squad on the girls side.

FC Tech

COACH: Roman Tsipenyuk

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Aiden Bickford, Cameren Candelaria, Preston Duval, Anthony Gallo, Gabe Tomasi, Dylan Cullen, Camryn Laster, Josiah Little, Ethan Smarr, Joey Valvo, Madix Whitman, Atlithonatiu Gonzalez-Jayne, Sam Bodenstein, Liam Bliss, Logan Caron, Jared Currier, Ian Doyle, William Thomas, Seamus Collins, Damden Cousineau, Dyllan Duvall, James Gibson, Izaya Romer, Wyatt Sisum, Justin Lent, Truman Long, Angel Luna-Torres, Wyatt Whitman, Ian Bastarache, Elliott Cox, Owen LaValley, Kessik Beck, David Klempner-Siano, Logan LeBlanc, Brian Peagos, Estes Lemerise-Reinking, Khalifa Seck, Michael Waite, Caeden Cottrell-Bouchard, Ethan Damkoehler, Robert Goff, Jaxon Silva, Sawyer Cadran, James Edson, William Hutchinson, Daniel Ortiz

OUTLOOK: The Eagles will be looking to have athletes qualify for states this year, with plenty of worthy candidates.

Little (long jump), Candelaria (100, 200), Whitman (400), Romer (shot, discus), Smarr (long jump), Gallo (mile, 2 mile) and Thomas (800) got off to strong starts in Tech’s opening meet against Greenfield.

Franklin Tech is once again co-oping with Turners this spring.

Frontier

BOYS COACH: Walt Flynn

GIRLS COACH: Bob Smith

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Aiden Dredge, Amory Maxey, Hunter Russell, Alex Schreiber, Jack Storm, Aidan Valderrama, Javion Cabrera, Ben Cachiguango, Charlie Dennis, AJ Desmond, Tegan Dexyter, Evan Galli, Jonathan Olvera, Julian Adams, Garrett Dredge, Luke Howard, Cristopher Mitchell, Adrien Pazmandy, Gus Radner, John Reloj, Carter Robinson, Evan Hedlund, Noah McMillan, Brendan Dawson, Dominic Sarno, Matheau Lawson, Caleb Lilley, Jaxson Byrne, Colton Bysiewski, Hengxi Yue, Zach Brown, Kimie Taylor

GIRLS ROSTER: Micky McCarthy, Una Millette, Nicole Plasse, Julia Walkowicz, Jill Worden, Iris Hill, Maebrie Hoff, Leah Gump, Mary Burt, Hannah Davis, Sylvie DiBartolomeo, Josie Fosnot, Abigail Grover, Sasha Malo, Claire McFarland, Griffin Montminy, Lilly Novak, Perla Ordaz, Madelyn Antes, Julia Morse, Ashley Rivard, Shannon Terry-Nugent, Maia Fosnot, Sadie Griffin, Ohia Dellert, Liv Christensen, Maia Christensen, Eliza Montminy, Elsa Brown, Alli Paciorek, Phoebe Radner, Nora Sloan, Miriam Toschik, Lucy Zraunig, Addie Morrey, Ashlie Galenski, Kali Beam, Florence Olakanpo, Lilliana Smith, Eliza Van Driesche, Faythe Sobieski, Jessica Schimmel, Mara Allium, Bailey Cusson, Julianna Dettmers, Nimisha Gudimella, Nahusha Gudimella, Callie Gifford, Olive Klaus

OUTLOOK: The Redhawks once again have one of the largest rosters in the area, as they look to defend the Intercounty crown on both the boys and girls side.

At the Div. 6 state meet a season ago, Hedlund placed eighth in the two mile, Cachiguango came in 11th in the 110 hurdles, Pazmandy took fourth in the pole vault while Dredge placed second in the javelin. Maxey, Valderrama, Storm and Howard are other athletes to keep an eye on on the boys side. 

On the girls side, DiBartolomeo came in 22nd in the 2 mile, Davis placed 26th in the 100 hurdles, Plasse took 20th in the 400 hurdles and 10th in the long jump, Calhoun came in ninth in the pole vault, McCarthy took 21st in the shot put while Novak placed 12th in the discus and 23rd in the javelin at the Div. 6 meet last spring. 

Greenfield

BOYS COACH: Stu Elliott

GIRLS COACH: Pete Conway

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Henry Anhalt, Cody Baker, Avery Barton, Jacob Blanchard, Dylan Breiwick, Jon Breor, Devonne Brown, Jackson Caron, John Caron, Robert Daignault, Tim Derivolkov, Sam Eckstrom, Julian Fornes-Sicam, Zachary Gray, Aiden Holliday, James Iavorschi, Ezeekiel Jiminez, Max Kenfield, Rocky Landry, Jack Laurie, Erik Martineau, Caleb Murray, Zach Ozdarski, Krish Patel, Ryan Pedigree, Angel Politis, Oliver Postera, Alex Scotera, Derek Scotera, Grayson Thomas, Tristan Toomey, Jerry Ven, Lucian Volosenco, Javion Williams, Nate Woodard, Mason Youmell

GIRLS ROSTER: Holly Babineau, Lillianna Badillo, Julia Belville, Synia Benz, Tayler Bergeron, McKenzie Boswell, Natalia Cody, Isabella Ekblom, Alice Fortin, Ava Fortin, Rose Fortin, Mia Gray, Kristina Kostov, Payton Martin, Auburn Mass, Cheyenne Medina, Wednesday Pessiglia, Suhani Patel, Bayda Pratt, Amelia Prescott, Layla Prescott, Starasia Rosario, Miel Snir Alverado

OUTLOOK: Caron is coming off a stellar winter season where he placed 10th in the mile and seventh in the 1,000 at Div. 5 states. He’ll be looking to parlay that into a big outdoor season for his senior year, having placed 26th in the mile and sixth in the pole vault at Div. 6 states last spring. 

Patel placed 11th in the high jump while Breor took 17th in the discus at D6 last year while Ven (throws) and Youmell (hurdles) are others to watch on the boys side.

“We have a combination of new and returning athletes this season,” Elliott said. “We have a number of solid athletes, many from the Green Wave basketball team, who should have a positive impact this season.”

On the girls side Patel had a standout winter season and will be a factor in the high jump, triple jump and hurdles this spring. All three Fortin sisters are athletes Conway expects big things from while Babineau (sprints), Mass (throwing), Rosario (throws) and Cody (javelin) are others to watch.

With a larger roster, the Green Wave are hoping to fill out more events.

Mahar

COACH: Sarah Woodward

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Silo Eaton, Xavier Fountain, Aryan Kheti, Caleb Wandrei, Lucas Briand, Ishan Coburn, Isaiah Torres, Isiah Whitmore, Zane Vitello, Solomon Burke, Coltin Fausett, Calypso Heyrlackmung, Michael LaPlante, Riley Murphy, Kaden Vorce, Wesley Cyganiewicz, Ronnie Stone, Danny Quigley, Marshall Ames, Jayden Dicato, Aiden Drake, Malaki Grummell, Turin Gurganus, Mitchell Krasco, David Phelps, Sean Ramos, Dominic Richard, Mathieu Soucy, Matteo Torres, Josiah Cardona, Jeff Laplante, Dominic Whitman, Evan Woodbury

GIRLS ROSTER: Aubrey Johnson, Abbie Lacasse, Sophia Medieros, Amelie Rostock-Killay, Taylor Paluk, Whitney Sullivan, Carly Walsh, Nevaeh Woods, Mckaylan Dunn, Katy McGinnis, Madilyn Moore, Stellina Moore, Samantha Costello, Lilith Esteves, Ella Manson, Zariah Stone, Lana Sullivan, Beliah Esteves, Delana Fausett, Irati Martinez, Nevaeh Scribner, Thea Whitmore, Shea Woods, Brianna Dicato, Hailey Sousa

OUTLOOK: Krasco competed in a number of events at the D6 sectionals, placing 17th in the 110 hurdles, 18th in the 400 hurdles and 19th in the triple jump.

Whitman took 21st in the long jump and 32nd in the 100. Soucy (sprints) is another to watch on the boys side.

As mentioned above, Moore, now a freshman, will be one to watch in the pole vault. Scribner placed 11th in the 400 last spring at D6.

Mohawk Trail

BOYS COACH: Tim Shearer

GIRLS COACH: Joe Chadwick

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Vincent Gauthier, Will VanVleet, Cassidy Marcel, Chay Mojallali, Crimson Helenek, Qwade Niquette, Zac Canaday, Peter Healy, Tanner Biagini, Luke Read, Wyatt Alling, Aidan Gauthier, Sam Barrows, Rex Kuoppala, Leo Boltz, Carson Richardson, Aymeric Loucka, Oliver Schwenger-Saltz, Blake Nevins, Dustin Reade, Jackson Feury, Cole Raffe, Zavel Gardner, Daniel Gougeon

GIRLS ROSTER: Sophia Bourdon, Valerie Bzomowski, Emma Canaday, Naomi den Ouden, Cleome Gardner, Faith Gilbert, Heidi Helenek, Racheal Herzig, Lily Jenks, Zephyr Jetzon, Avery Johnston, Virginia Krezmien, Natalie Lanoue, Sam Mizula, Abby Osterman, Katie Osterman, Julia Patenaude, Lydia Pinkham, Morgan Raffa, Anya Read, Rowan Richardson, Emily Sisum, Sofiya Slocik-Gritzner, Jalila Smith, McKenzie Sonntag, Cammie Thompson, Ella Thompson, Ettalynn Thompson, Aryannah Thurman

OUTLOOK: The Warriors will be in the mix for the Intercounty League again this spring.

Gauthier took ninth at D6 in the mile while Mojallali took 12th in the high jump, though as mentioned above, Mojallali has improved his leaping and is in line for a big season. He also took 14th in the triple jump at D6. Healy is another to watch in the distance events.

On the girls side Krezmien had a big winter in the distance events while Jetzon (sprints), Sisum, Read, Lanoue are a few others to keep an eye on.

Pioneer

COACH: Erin Thayer

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

BOYS ROSTER: Carter Berthiaume, Lorenzo Bordas, Griffin de Ruiter, Connor Guertin, Noah Gamache, Jerad Goulston, Travis Hatch, Julian James, Connor Livingstone, Lexi Sanieski, Joey Seaman, Arlo Spencer, Ryan Spofford, Lex Singh, Robert Teaca, Jacob Thomas

GIRLS ROSTER: Issy Allen, Lilyann Baldwin, Louise Flagollet, Emmanuelle Flagollet, Lauran Fuess, Kayla Gruskowski, Sahana Heilman, Amelia Hescock, Lauryn Kalinowski, Anya Livingston, Esme Moran, Emersen Pratt, Natalie Rios, Daniela Teaca, Riley Thayer, Sophia Wood

OUTLOOK: Louise Flagollet will be a force in the high jump as a freshman while Heilman placed 17th in the 100 hurdles at Div. 6 sectionals last spring.

Spofford is one to watch in the mile and 400 on the boys side.

 

Turners Falls

COACH: Leslie Charles

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Intercounty/6

GIRLS ROSTER: Otilia Bartolon, Tristan Bliss, Maddie Brandl, Charlotte Canterbury, Dani Chagnon, Jackie Churchill, Ripley Dresser, Zoey Duda, Jaade Duncan, Makayla Fournier, Jazzy Gonzalez, Ella Guidaboni, Layla Hammond, Michaela Klempner-Siano, Mady Lynde, Jazzy McNamara, Sofia Moreno, Lyss Nelson, Izzy Otto, Daisha Ovalle Perez, Shelby Paris, Evelina Parpalov, Raygan Pendriss, Ashlyn Perez, Emma Sibley, Jakhai Williams, Elise Wolfe, Laken Woodard, Taylor Youmell

OUTLOOK: Duncan is a senior who has impressed in the 100. Williams and Gonzalez are eighth graders who are ones to watch, Williams in the 100, 100 hurdles and long jump and Gonzalez in the 200. Pendriss (2 mile), Canterbury (javelin and discus) and Youmell (100, 200, high jump) are others to keep an eye on.