Last fall, the Wachusett High School golf team put together its third best average (200 per match or a 40 average per player) under Coach Nick Guerin. On the other hand, by going 10-8, it was the team’s second worse record. In addition to playing in the very tough Mid Wach-A League, the coach also believes that the popularity of golf has contributed to more competitive players.

“Since Covid hit us, more people have been playing golf and the game has gotten a lot better,” Guerin said. “We play in a tough division with some very good competition. Our schedule has the likes of Shrewsbury, Westboro, Algonquin, Nashoba. And Grafton fielded a really good squad last year.”

This year’s captains Andrew Victor and Ricky Narin came to this point in their game in very different ways. At the tender age of six, Narin had golf clubs placed in his hands because his father was a big golfer. Victor, at the age of six, was a baseball player and was one of those who didn’t begin to hit the links until the pandemic.

“During Covid there was basically nothing to do, but the golf courses were still opened,” Victor explained. “I needed something to do and decided to start playing golf. I found that it was a sport that you had to push yourself, but it was rewarding when you made a good shot.”

Hitting the links not only gave the then-middle-schooler something to do, but it made Victor determined to become a better golfer. When high school rolled around, he felt that he was ready to attempt to make the team although he was not expecting to make Wachusett’s top team. Narin was entering high school at the same time and while he was very confident in his play, he too was not sure if he would make the varsity squad.

“You play golf basically against yourself and you know when you are improving and when you are not,” Narin said. “Entering my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to play varsity golf but was unsure if I would make the team that year. Andrew and myself were the only two freshmen to make the team and although I started out slow, I did end up with the third best average [42] on the team.”

As the duo enters their final season with Wachusett as captains, they are both looking to help the team get ready to play their best golf. Victor wants to be a leader that the rest of the team looks up to while teaching the younger players how to accomplish their goals and manage their time wisely. Narin wants to try and improve upon Wachusett’s practices as he feels that the team doesn’t get enough time due to all the leagues at the Bedrock Golf Course in Rutland. Not having the time on the course, he feels that the players didn’t take things too seriously. This year he wants them to practice hard and be ready for the matches.

Having lost a handful of talented golfers from last season (five seniors, three who started and two who were big contributors) Guerin is unsure where this team will be, come the end of the season.

“It’s really too early, ask me that again in November,” the Mountaineer coach said. “Over the years I have seen that when one golfer seems to have a bad day, someone usually steps up to balance things out, despite it being an individual sport.”

While the coach is undecided, his captains firmly believe that they know where this team lies. 

“I know that I am going to go out and play my best golf, setting the example for the others and hopefully after we’ve left, they continue to build the team chemistry to where they can be the best team possible,” Victor said.

Guerin hopes that his captains will continue to play the golf that they have been capable of, while guiding this team. 

“Ricky and Andrew have been on the team since their freshmen year and while I usually don’t have freshmen on the varsity - as seniors rule the roost - these two showed me something,” Guerin said. “I am looking forward to see what they can accomplish this year; it’s going to be exciting to watch.”

Narin will find his average in the mid-30s while Victor will be a few strokes higher in the high 30s. Where they tee off will all depend on what happens each match. In playing stroke play, Guerin likes to mix and match his tandems as they head out onto the golf course. Things all depend on who is hot and who can they be paired with to improve their game.

Other seniors looking to get back onto the golf course for Wachusett are Colin Cross, Cooper McConihay and Luke Kirton. Cross found his way into some matches last year shooting in the low 40s, McConihay shot 41 and Kirton averaged a 43, although he didn’t find his way onto the greens all that much due to a hockey injury. However, as the trio enters their final campaign with the Mountaineers, Guerin believes that they should all be dropping their averages this fall.

Other golfers who saw time on the junior varsity team last fall who have a shot at cracking the varsity lineup are Quinn Cross, Will Sullivan and Aidan Chase.

“It’s hard to say where they’ll fit this early; we’ll let the chips fall where they may,” Guerin said. “We have 32 athletes sign up so far looking for a spot on the team – that includes those athletes who are looking to move up from JV and three transfers looking to also make the team.”

Narin, who is hoping that he can decrease his average from 38 to 36 and claim the top spot on the Wachusett average board while also looking to become an All-Star, likes the way the team looks so far.

“Myself, I have been taking part in one or two tournaments weekly to get ready for the season,” he said. “As far as the team goes, if we can go out there and play good golf, winning at least nine matches, we’ll definitely get into the District Tournament, which would be a good goal for this team. As for making the States, it’s something that probably won’t happen.”

Having only six home matches, the Mountaineers will spend a lot of time on the road this fall. According to the coach, golf is the ultimate home-field advantage sport. His team is going to have to give it 110 percent to get past the regular season and into the post-season. W