TURNERS — It was a Senior Day a long time in the making for Turners Falls’ Joey Mosca. 

There aren’t many athletes that get to say they earned seven varsity letters in one sport, but Mosca is one of them, having played on the Thunder golf team since he was in sixth grade. 

Not only was Mosca on the team as a sixth grader, but he was a key cog in the lineup from the very beginning. Fast forward seven years and Mosca played the final match of his high school career at Thomas Memorial on Tuesday, firing a low round of 34 against Easthampton to help the Thunder improve to 11-2 on the season. 

“It’s pretty abrupt,” Mosca said afterward. “It felt like a normal match. I came here, played, hopefully get a win and get out of here. It’s not long ago I was one of those sixth graders out here trying not to shoot a 70. Seven years later here I am trying to break par, hopefully go win Western Mass. and try to qualify for states.” 

Mosca began golfing when he was in fifth grade, and when he got to the middle school, joined the golf team.

He’s steadily grown in the sport and has turned into the top player in the Turners Falls program the last few years while helping guide the Thunder to a fourth-place finish at the PVIAC Invitational Two-Ball earlier this fall. 

It’s not just simply the amount of time on the team that has led to his success, but all the work Mosca has done outside of practice.

“I started golfing in fifth grade,” Mosca said. “So when I joined the team in sixth grade I knew the basics. I wouldn’t think where I am today would be something that would realistic where I could go out and do what I was supposed to do and get the job done. It took a lot of work and a lot of hours on the driving range and on the putting greens. Just a lot of time practicing to get to where I am today.” 

Turners Falls head coach Dave Kennedy, who has been Mosca’s coach all seven years with the program, has seen the senior grow from a young middle school athlete into one of the top golfers in the area. 

“It’s been a great transformation,” Kennedy said. “Not only was Joey on the team as a sixth grader but we only had six kids so he was playing in every match. The progression has been great. When he was a freshman he started to see his ability start to shine through. I’ve been saying for the last three years that he’s one of, if not the best, players in our league.” 

Mosca said he is proud to have helped Turners win the Bi-County League East title his senior year. Turners opened its campaign with eight straight wins to do so, with Mosca captaining the young group. 

Mosca has seen himself go from the young up-and-comer to a senior captain, and has been a large part of establishing a winning culture for the Thunder. 

“The last league [title] they had was 2012,” Mosca said. “My sixth grade year we had one win. We’ve progressively gotten better. When the younger kids have gotten better, the program has taken off.

“Winning the league this year is big where it’s my senior year,” Mosca added. “We have a young crew. We knew it could happen but we didn’t know we’d be playing like this, especially after the hot start. We didn’t think that was realistic when it started but here we are. It’s cool and great for the young guys.” 

It’s been Mosca and Turners’ consistency that produced a league title. 

In those 13 matches, Mosca’s worst round was a 41 while his best match came against the Green Wave, where he shot a 32 at the Country Club of Greenfield. His average to date is a 36.9, giving the Thunder a consistent baseline to work with out of their No. 1 player. 

“This year he has been so consistent,” Kennedy said. “It’s probably why we won the league. We were the most consistent team. Not only Joey but all my guys. They were around their average in most matches and there wasn’t the up-and-down.” 

As a captain, Mosca has taken the younger players on the team under his wing. 

Knowing what it was like to be one of those middle schoolers looking up to the established veterans on the roster, Mosca said he has taken pride in his captaincy, doing everything he can to help out the rest of the team as they grow into their game just as he once did. 

“These kids have played a lot,” Mosca said. “I try to take them out to other courses the most I can. I try to give them that captain feel. When I was in sixth and seventh grade I had those seniors who were there to help me out. I always looked up to them so I try to be that figure to these guys.” 

Kennedy said his captain has done a great job of working with the younger players and instilling confidence in the program. 

“It’s been enjoyable to have him on the team,” Kennedy said. “Joey is a good person. Whatever he decides to do after high school he will be successful in. The kids look up to him. He’s a man of few words but they enjoy having him on the team. It’s comforting knowing the best player out there is your teammate. He gives them confidence going into every match. We know what he’ll shoot and we’ll be in good shape. Without having to say or do anything himself, his presence gives the kids comfort and confidence.” 

Mosca and the Thunder hope to build on the momentum when the Western Mass. Division 3 Championship is contested on Tuesday at Southampton Country Club.