There’s another Booska in the area making a name for himself on the golf course. 

Franklin Tech’s Brady Booska, son of Dennis Booska and brother of former Western Mass. champion Cody Booska, added his name to the record books at the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Championship last fall at the Country Club of Wilbraham.

The junior shot a 78 on a rainy day, capturing the D-3 individual championship. He then moved on to the 31st Annual Interscholastic Golf Championship at Mohegan Sun, where he got the chance to compete against the best New England had to offer. 

Now a senior, Booska is looking to accomplish the same thing his older brother did: win an individual title as a junior and a senior. 

“He came from a Vocational school and went down to compete with the best in New England,” Franklin Tech coach Sean Knightly said. “No matter the result that’s an accomplishment in and of itself. I’m proud of his success last year. He’s a dedicated golfer. He golfs year round and is passionate about his game.”

Booska will once again lead an Eagles squad that placed third as a team at Western Mass. Gabe Mota is another veteran on the team that Knightly pointed out as someone who put in a lot of work to improve during the offseason. 

“Brady and Gabe have been practicing a lot,” Knightly said. “They go out, get better and teach each other. Both of them love the game. These young men love it. They always want to practice and improve. It’s a coach’s dream. We have such limited, precious time at practice to improve our game. The athletes who put in the work in the offseason really make a difference.” 

Franklin Tech’s Braeden Talbot, a freshman who played as an eighth grader at Turners Falls last year, is also showing promise. Jackson Morey, William Belval, Tyler LaFountain and John Carmichael all have golf experience and have been playing well throughout the preseason. 

With plenty of experience, Knightly said he has seen the veterans on his team leading by example, whether that be through coaching the younger players or by putting in the extra work in the offseason. That leadership is something that Knightly hopes becomes the standard within the program. 

“It’s important that the juniors and seniors set the tone for the team,” Knightly said. “When the young kids see the dedication that the older players are showing in the offseason, that’s what makes a good team. Those young kids can see that, catch the bug and practice harder next summer. That’s how the circle of success is formed. As they go out, the new kids come in. That’s how you build a program.” 

As for expectations this year? Knightly and the Eagles will be competing in a tough Bi-County League East League along with Hopkins, Greenfield, Pioneer, Easthampton and Turners. Knightly said he doesn’t want to set expectations, but would rather see improvement from his players throughout the fall. 

“They want to compete for the division,” Knightly said. “I just want them to play their best, have fun, improve their game and have a good season.” 

There will be a new scoring system used for matches throughout Franklin County this season. Unlike last year, where the top six players went head-to-head with four points on the line for each matchup, matches will now be scored by adding up the four low scores for each team. That’s in line with how Division 1 schools have scored in recent years.

Athol

COACH: Brian Patria

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Independent

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: N/A

ROSTER: Ethan Heuer, Dominik St. Andre, Ben Kearney, Brandon Adams, Gray Gallant, Rafeal Omar Lopez

OUTLOOK: The Bears brought golf back this fall, and have a team full of players who are playing competitive golf for the first time in their lives. With their entire roster made up of sophomores and juniors, Athol will look to grow throughout the season.

Franklin Tech

COACH: Sean Knightly

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East, 3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-6

ROSTER: Brady Booska, Braeden Talbot, Gabe Mota, Jackson Morey, John Carmichael, Tyler LaFountain, William Belval

Frontier

COACH: Dave Blanchette

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban West, 2

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-7

ROSTER: Robert Fuqua, Gabe Solodky, Cade Allenby, Cam Skiffington, Porter Hall, Matthew Sibley, Melaina Winston, Ryan Cetto, Noah Nichols, Addy Wood, Griffin Casey, Tyler Galensky, Cameron Johnson

OUTLOOK: Cetto was the No. 1 for the Redhawks and will likely be in that role again this fall. Skiffington and Wood were contributors last year who should take another step forward this season as Frontier hopes to return to the Western Mass. Div. 2 tournament.

Greenfield

COACH: Josh Cook

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East, 2

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-3

ROSTER: John Marchefka, Bryce Avery, Preston Lafleur, Michael Pierce, Conner Bergeron, Luke Scotera, Tyler Zdanowicz

OUTLOOK: The Green Wave won the Bi-County East for the first time since 2007 last year, but now are forced to replace Dylan Archer, who served as their No. 1 the last two seasons. Marchefka has impressed through the preseason, as has Avery, Lafleur and Pierce, who all were regulars in Greenfield’s lineup a season ago. Bergeron, a seventh grader, has shown potential.

Mohawk Trail

COACH: Tom Antonellis

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County West, 3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 11-7

ROSTER: Sadie Mae Mizula, Zachary Canaday, Phineas Tuttman, Grady Patenaude,Doug Wilcox, Logan Moore, Deegan Kelleher, RobertPatenaude

OUTLOOK: The Warriors made a trip to the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship last year behind a strong regular season. Tuttman, Moore, Wilcox, Grady Patenaude and Kelleher were all key players in the lineup last year, which placed ninth at the Western Mass. Div. 3 tournament.

Pioneer

COACH: River Kuhn

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East, 3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-5

ROSTER: Brayden Thayer, Ben Werner, Mike Stennes, Ethan Mauthe, Hugh Cyhowski, Ryan Guertin, Cam Curtis, Michael Cyhowski, Camden Guertin, Carter Gerry, Chayton Massa, Vinnie Grima, Harley Archambeault, Emmalyn Godfrey

OUTLOOK: The Panthers return their entire lineup from a team that placed sixth in the Div. 3 Western Mass championship. Pioneer will be led by Thayer, who Kuhn said has made huge improvements since last year. Werner and Stennes have also made strides this offseason, Mauthe continues to be a consistent player while Guertin and Michael Cyhowski are pushing for spots in the lineup.

Turners Falls

COACH: Dave Kennedy

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Bi-County East, 3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-6

ROSTER: Joey Mosca, Darian Burnett, Jack Day, Grady Deery, Reese Ewell, Cam Cogswell, Austin Smarr, Nick Ward, Liam Kerivan

OUTLOOK: Mosca, a senior, has been with the Thunder since he was a sixth grader. He will once again be the No. 1 for Turners this fall. Deery, Day and Ewell are others to watch for the Thunder. Turners placed eighth at the Western Mass. Div. 3 tournament last fall.