After spending so many seasons near the top of the standings, but just shy of reaching the peak, the Concord High School golf team finally claimed a coveted title – the program’s first in 22 years. Now, the Tide is going for a repeat.

Last season was a special one for Concord. The Tide earned the No. 1 seed in the regular season, boasting a 25-1 record, won the Division I team title (defeating Hanover by 10 strokes), and then-senior Gavin Richardson also won the D-I individual state championship, the first time the Tide swept the titles since 1947.

The Tide players want to be there again and they have been putting in the time in the offseason to make it happen.

Seniors Carl Sirrianna and Keller Ramshaw, both of whom competed in last year’s Division I championship at Canterbury Woods, played in the State Amateur Championship at Concord Country Club this past summer.

Fellow senior David Bourgeois spent most of last season as the seventh-best golfer on his team, but came on strong at the end to finish fourth in the division. He, Sirrianna and sophomore Zach Nelson (10th in D-I as a freshman) all played well in New Hampshire Golf Association and club events held over the summer to polish their tournament skills.

Sophomore Jaden Haas is also in good form, having recently won the Bill Heinz Citywide Junior Golf Tournament, carding a 3-under over 36 holes, 18 each at Beaver Meadow and Concord Country Club.

Haas didn’t compete at the state championship, but saw significant varsity time last year, as did senior Bobby Rockford.

Seniors Cam Roy and Holden Martin, juniors Tyler Morin and Michael Barry and sophomore Sean Mulkerron also return and add valuable depth to the roster.

“We are very fortunate to have some very talented players returning this season,” said Mark McDonough, who is starting his eighth season as head coach. “The depth of quality players will make it very competitive each and every week to determine which of our eight players are selected to compete in the matches this season. The players recognize this and many have worked very hard over the summer to prepare for the season ahead.”

McDonough knows that his squad can’t overlook anybody given the high quality of teams in Division I, including Hanover, Londonderry and Bedford, last year’s 2-3-4 at the state championships.

“As always there are several really good teams in our division and we look forward to trying to defend,” McDonough said.

Concord tees off its first match on Wednesday against Manchester Memorial and Salem at Derryfield Country Club.

BOW

Division: II

Coach: Matt Davis (8th year)

Last year: 22-6, 6th.

Returning starters: Owen Webber, sr.; Jacob Gancarz, so.; Aidan O’Keeffe, so.; Andre Contreras, sr.

Top newcomers: Ryan Oberman, fr.; Cavot Blaney, fr.; Chase Crowell, so.

Outlook: “We have some good depth and can see the potential in the team,” Davis said. “It is always nice to have some leadership from the upperclassmen to bring along a younger group. I know that with focus and determination we have the ability to consistently improve throughout the season.”

Teams to beat: Portsmouth, Winnacunnet.

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Division: II

Coach: Joe Dougherty (3rd year)

Last year: 18-10, 7th.

Returning starters: Isaak Davis, sr.; Tristan Pierce, jr.; Trevor Cote, jr.; Konnor Silveria, jr.; Colin Reardon, jr.; Landon Simonds, jr.; Brady Smith, jr.

Top newcomers: Colton Magoon, fr.; Logan McCullen, fr.; Logan Rackliff, sr.; Bode Wood, jr.; Levi Rollins, jr.; Brayden Laroche, jr.

Outlook: The Pride made quite the impression on D-II last season. Playing at the varsity level for the first time since 2016, MV had a winning record (picking up the program’s first varsity victories since 2014), qualified for the postseason tournament and eventually crowned the division’s individual champion, Andrew Surprenant, who graduated in the spring. The Pride are hoping for a top-8 finish in the regular season to qualify for back-to-back trips to the tournament.

“There will be a strong mix of experience and youth, with several players cutting their teeth in tournament play last season,” Dougherty said. “The biggest factor for success in 2024 will be finding consistency and confidence from tee to green, minimizing high numbers and building confidence on early accomplishments.”

Teams to beat: Oyster River, Winnacunnet, Portsmouth.

PEMBROKE

Division: II

Coach: Beth Hamilton (15th year)

Last year: 9-20, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Zac Bemis, jr.; Cam Carter, sr.; Evan Purtell, sr.

Outlook: The Spartans graduated six seniors from last year’s team and will be rebuilding this fall.

“Many newcomers are new to competition golf, but are eager to compete this season for PA,” Hamilton said. “Our main goal this year is to play consistent golf and stay positive of the course.”

Teams to beat: Bow, Windham, Timberlane, Portsmouth.

BISHOP BRADY

Division: III

Coach: Jason Bird (3rd year)

Last year: 19-8, 5th.

Returning starters: Mady Savary, so.; Aiden Boule, sr.; Cam Fortier, so.; Alex Pelletier, jr.; Peyton Cone, so.

Top newcomers: Chase Connor, fr.

Outlook: The Giants return five varsity players from last year, who are all eager to help Brady improve on its fifth-place finished in D-III. “We are looking for a fun year ahead, a year of improvement, teamwork, and great golf,” Bird said.

Boule, the team’s lone senior, will be captain, while Savary finished fourth in the state in the girls’ individual championship.

Teams to beat: Derryfield, Coe-Brown, Pelham.

COE-BROWN

Division: III

Coach: Chris Mowers (7th year)

Last year: 16-8, 4th.

Returning starters: Alex Myslinski, sr.; Joe Fenton, jr.; Colby Strum, so.; Gilbert Bean, sr.; Will Marshall, sr.

Outlook: Coe-Brown is coming off a successful 2023 season with six veterans returning from last year’s team, five of them with significant match experience, includying Myslinki, who finished 10th in D-III and was one of three Bear players to make the cut for the individual championship. Coe-Brown also has a handful of younger players who could make an immediate impact.

“I feel that we should compete well this season, but our division is deep with great players and coaches,” Mowers said. “Looking forward to another year of D-III golf.”

JOHN STARK

Division: III

Coach: Denis Kolehmainen (4th year).

Last year: 4-21, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Landon Duclos, so.; Zack Fredette, so.; Daniel Brisson, so.; Chase Philibotte, sr.

Top newcomers: Charlie Pierce, Sam Scordo, Jackson Reynard

Outlook: “We are a very talented young team,” Kolehmainen said. “This year, we should be more competitive than last year and we hope to make the playoffs.”

KEARSARGE

Division: III

Coach: Bubba Williams (8th year)

Last year: 13-12, 6th.

Returning starters: Owen Blood, sr.; Andrew Cushing, sr.; Ryan Donelane, sr.; JT Pourby, so.

Top newcomers: Leah LaMothe, jr.; Isaac Knox, so.; Joe Taylor, jr.

Outlook: The goals for the Cougars are to qualify for the postseason tournament and improve on last year’s sixth-place finish, while also getting a couple golfers into the top 16 to qualify for the individual championship tournament.

Teams to beat: Derryfield, Stevens, Coe-Brown, Bishop Brady, Pelham, Souhegan.

BELMONT

Division: IV

Coach: John Mattes (2nd year)

Last year: 2-22, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Max Ryder, so.; Jordan DeFrancesco, so.; Jasper Sottak, so.; Kyle Dumais, sr.

Top newcomers: freshmen Brayden Pucci, fr.; Alex Rowley, fr.; Tyler Kelly, fr.; Jacob Akerstrom, so.; Nathan Gerbig, sr.

Outlook: After not fielding a team in 2022 and having five golfers on the team last year, the Raiders’ roster has swelled to 13 strong for the 2024 season.

CONCORD CHRISTIAN

Division: IV

Coach: Caleb Holmes (3rd year)

Last year: 8-18, did not make tournament.

Outlook: The Kingsmen are looking to qualify for the tournament for the first time in their three-year history.

HILLSBORO-DEERING

Division: IV

Coach: Brian McGinn (10th year).

Last year: 10-16, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Gavin Ford, jr.

Outlook: The Hillcats didn’t make the playoffs as a team, but return Ford, last year’s fifth-place finisher in the D-IV tournament.

HOPKINTON

Division: IV

Coach: Ted Wells (1st year).

Last year: 17-8, 5th.

Returning starters: Bronson Ammann, sr.; Tate Doolan, sr.; Coley Wells, so.

Top newcomers: Jacob Lanman, so.; Aidan Clay, fr.; Beckett St. Cyr, fr.; Chet Behner, fr.; Karsten Morgan, fr.

Outlook: Wells takes over for coach Chase, who spent eight years in charge of the Hawks’ program. Ammann finished runner-up in the D-IV individiual tournament last year.

“Seniors Bronson Ammann and Tate Doolan will lead a strong cast of mostly new ninth and tenth graders this fall,” Well said. “The team looks sharp. And new to the game, (freshman) Hayden Carr and (sophomore) Josh Simpson are improving with every swing and every smile.”