It’s safe to say the Pioneer League North runs through Frontier.
Both Redhawk programs took home Pioneer League North titles last fall and both are bringing back groups that will be able to contend once again this season.
Senior Leah Gump, who took 18th at the All-State meet last season, will lead the charge on a Frontier girls team that finished seventh at All-States. Nicole Plasse, Sylvie DiBartolomeo, Sasha Malo and Maia Christensen also did well at All-States and each of them will play a role in the Redhawks’ quest to win a second straight league title.
“We have a solid core of returning runners,” Frontier coach Bob Smith said. “They are experienced and road tested. Leah Gump, Nicole Plasse, Sylvie DiBartolomeo, Sasha Malo and Maia Christensen will be our foundation on which we will continue to try to build. We also have a promising group of newcomers.”
The Redhawk boys earned a ninth place finish at the Div. 2 B meet a season ago and return a good chunk of that roster his fall.
Luke Howard and Evan Hedlund both placed in the top 25 at the Western Mass. Div. 2 meet, Howard taking 14th and Hedlund 24th, and will both look to lead Frontier this season.
“We have a good group of returning athletes,” Smith said. “Their attitude is strong and their work ethic is excellent. We have several newcomers who look very good, too.”
Frontier
COACH: Bob Smith
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Pioneer North, 3
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: Boys 14-1, Girls 13-1
BOYS ROSTER: Ben Desmond, Amory Maxey, Oliver Brown, AJ Desmond, Charlie Dennis, Luke Howard, Evan Hedlund, Mark Brennan, Brendan Carey, Leland Murphy, Adam Paul, Dominic Sarno, Caleb Libby, Harrison Manning, Forest Savoie, Benjamin Sweet, Hengxi Yue, Casey Cooper
GIRLS ROSTER: Leah Gump, Iris Hill, Nicole Plasse, Micky McCarthy, Una Millette, Mary Burt, Sylvie DiBartolomeo, Sasha Malo, Isabella Graves, Perla Ordaz, Liv Christensen, Maia Christensen, Phoebe Radner, Eliza Montminy, Paisley Severance, Kali Beam, Bailey Cusson, Julianna Dettmers, Kiera Nugent
Greenfield
COACH: Stu Elliott
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Pioneer North, 3
BOYS ROSTER: Dylan Breiwick, Jackson Caron, Max Caron, Tony McDonald, Zach Ozdarski, Alex Scotera, Derek Scotera, Nate Woodard, Mason Youmell
GIRLS ROSTER: Levi Badillo, Bella Ekblom, Alice Fortin, Ava Fortin, Rose Fortin, Caylin Hawkins, Wednesday Passiglia, Layla Prescott, Tessie Richard
OUTLOOK: Ava Fortin, a senior, was the lone girl who ran for the Green Wave last season, but now with a full team, Greenfield will be able to score in girls races this season. Jackson Caron finished 12th at the Western Mass. Div. 2 meet a season ago.
Mahar
COACH: Sarah Woodward
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Pioneer North, 3
BOYS ROSTER: Jeff LaPlante, Josiah Cardona, Marshall Ames, Aiden Drake, Solomon Burke, Michael LaPlante
GIRLS ROSTER: Isabella Mattson, Nicole Bezio
OUTLOOK::LaPlante, a senior, and Ames, a junior, will lead the charge for the Senator boys this fall. Mahar will not be able to earn team points in the girls race without the required number of girls to score.
Mohawk Trail
COACH: Joe Chadwick
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Pioneer North, 3
BOYS ROSTER: Leo Boltz, Aidan Gauthier, Vincent Gauthier, Peter Healy, Rex Kuoppala, Aymeric Loucka, Carson Richardson
GIRLS ROSTER: Valerie Bzomowski, Virginia Krezmien, Natalie Lanoue, Katie Osterman, Anya read, Ettalynn Thompson
OUTLOOK:Lanoue, Read and Bzomowski all placed in the top 60 during All States last year. Lanoue and Bzomowsi are now freshman while Read is a sophomore, with all three looking to make a jump now a year older. Vincent Gauthier, a senior, led the Warriors during their first meet of the season. Mohawk Trail won’t have Emmett Johnson, who took 11th at All States.
Pioneer
COACH: Emma Harnish
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Pioneer North, 3
ROSTER: Carter Berthiaume, Lucianne Burnap, Griffin De Ruiter, Amelia Fowler-Shaw, Benjamin Goodwin, Emersen Pratt, Lex Singh, Emma Snow, Ryan Spofford, Maddax Wegiel
OUTLOOK:De Ruiter and Wegiel are seniors who have a ton of cross country experience with the Panthers. Singh, a junior, and Berthiaume, a freshman, are others to watch.