Pembroke Academy’s future hopes rest largely on untested talent

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:35:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Two years ago, the Pembroke Academy golf team included six participants, not even enough to field a complete lineup each time out.

Though the team’s day-to- day performance is still a work in progress, PA coach Mike Desilets said he’s seeing some encouraging signs.

“The scores are high, but our numbers are high, too,” he said. “We’re very young. We only have two or three seniors, and we have more (golfers) than the last two years combined.”

In fact, there are 21 Spartans competing for playing time this season.

Sophomore Lucas Connor and junior Jamison Syphers, who each shoot in the low 80s, lead the current squad. Though the team is a long shot to make the state tournament, Connor and Syphers are likely to represent Pembroke at the Class I individual championship in October, said Desilets.

Juniors Billy Bouchard and Kaitlyn Labbay, who played last year with Connor and Syphers, consistently score in the top five for PA as well.

Freshman Emerson Brooks has shown plenty of promise, as have many of his classmates, said Desilets. That list includes Thomas Graziano, Stephen Henning, Kent Keeler, Stephen Lang, Jack Poirier, Matthew Serafin and Jake Steinbeiser.

Also contributing are seniors John Andrews and Neil Innarelli, juniors Zachary Cogswell and Adam French, and sophomores Jorden Bonanno, Kinsey Brassaw, Nathaniel Chagnon, Joseph Darby and Abigail Kinney.

With the amount of youth on the team, Desilets said his expectations are high for the future.

“Right now I’m just trying to get as many kids as I can into matches, so next year they’ll all have a year of experience under their belts,” he said. “I don’t know how often we’ll get a group this big, so hopefully the freshmen can keep us strong for the next couple years.”

Fore-gone conclusions – Current season is bleak for PA; near future looks bright

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:57:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Six years ago Pembroke won the Class I golf title. By last season, the Spartans slipped to the point they forfeited several matches because they lacked a full team.

This year, coach Mike Desilets has a dozen players, and though his squad is young, with two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen, he is enjoying watching the group develop on the course.

“At the very least, we are inexperienced, so my expectations are improvement more than anything else,” said Desilets. “And, for the most part, they’re doing it.

“The kids that aren’t experienced are getting it now,” he continued. “Maybe it’s not always at the right time, because sometimes I have to throw them into a match when they may not be ready, but I suppose it’s a good way for them to get to learn.”

Pembroke is 2-13 on the season and likely won’t make the Class I tournament.

But a unique blend of experience and youthful talent is what makes this season most interesting to watch, said Desilets.

While senior Josh Murray has been the team’s emotional leader and mentor, freshman Lucas Connor has been Pembroke’s top scorer.

Along with Murray and Connor, junior Tyler Clark and sophomore Jamison Syphers are the most consistent Spartans in 2007, providing the squad with a top golfer from every class.

After the top four, however, Desilets said the talent, and the scores, vary dramatically from match to match.

Completing this year’s Pembroke dozen are senior Alex Poggi, juniors John Andrews, Sean Gallant, and Neil Innarelli, sophomores Katelyn Labbay and Billy Bouchard, and freshmen Cam Beaton and Ethan Keeler.

Pembroke News : golf

Pembroke Academy’s future hopes rest largely on untested talent

Fore-gone conclusions – Current season is bleak for PA; near future looks bright