While the Monadnock region is flush with athletic talent, and has a history of strong programs in a variety of different sports, three local coaches helm some of the best programs in the state. Often working in the shadows of the other sports at their respective schools, Lance Flamino of ConVal, Erin Kelly of Conant and Mike Smith of Mascenic continue in a line of storied programs that many in the region have either forgotten about or weren’t around for at the zenith.
Flamino, in his second year at the helm of the track and field program, is looking to rebuild a ConVal team that was fairly dominant back in the mid 2000’s when Scott Jenkins was the head coach. With athletes like Scott McGrath and Laura Laplante on his resume, Jenkins had ConVal riding high in the ranks of New Hampshire cross country and track and field. And before Jenkins, local legend Jack Murphy had his share of success at the helm of ConVal for 20 years, making for some pretty big shoes to fill.
However Flamino wasn’t new to success or building up a program that had fallen by the wayside. Taking the helm of the Conant track and field team, and then the cross country team down the road, Flamino built both the numbers and tradition that had been lacking since Frank Wright ran the program back in the 90’s.
“I have had athletes that considered themselves a single-sport athlete that come out for track to stay in shape and end up falling in love with the sport; some of those athletes went on to compete in college and became life-long runners.”
Building from the ground up takes time, and numbers and success don’t come overnight. While the new track certainly helped give a place the team concept could coalesce around, it took working the classroom and hallways to get the kids come out. “My first goal as a coach is to get kids involved. Track had a profound positive impact in my life in high school both socially and academically. The more young people I can get involved, working hard, staying out of trouble and building resiliency, the better.”
Flamino hopes to bring that enthusiasm to the ConVal squad now. Waiting a few years until his opportunity to take the helm in Peterborough, Flamino is now all in and it shows. The numbers have been steadily growing and so has the success. “We have a few injuries coming into the season that will be difficult to compensate for, but we have a great crew that is working hard day in and day out to be their best. Many of our returning athletes are stepping up and doing a great job mentoring the rookies. It’s too early to make any real predictions, but the entire coaching staff is really enjoying working with the group of kids we have.”
One town over in Jaffrey, Erin Kelly of Conant took over the program that Flamino started back up.
“Lance certainly left some big shoes (and short shorts) to fill. The kids adored him and he had high expectations in place. ”
And Kelly needed to come up to speed quickly considering she had one of the state’s best sprinters as a senior, who was looking to compete well and make the transition to college. Katie Tonyia, easily the best runner a coach is ever going to inherit, was left to put her trust in Kelly, and while both might have had reservations at first, the relationship led to a season of personal bests and state championship titles for Tonyia in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.
“Erin needed to come up to speed real quick when she took over the entire cross country and track and field programs,” says Mascenic coach Mike Smith, “and it wasn’t an easy transition. Everyone came in with lots of expectations of her, the program. But she stepped up and made it work.”
With her work cut out for her, Kelly set about putting her own stamp on the program. While the numbers initially fell with Flamino’s leaving, it wasn’t long before Kelly was looking for full rosters again in both cross country and track and field. “There was definitely a transition, probably two years, but this year has been the most exciting in terms of athletes coming with an understanding of the program and ready to put in work. “
This past fall, Kelly saw success on the cross country course, putting two athletes through to the Meet of Champions after the state championships, with Isabella Mormando finishing in sixth place at D3’s and Dane Seppala finishing in seventh, then nabbing the 24th spot at Meet of Champions and going on to New Englands.
The third member of the coaching triumvirate from the region has been at the coaching game longer than the other two combined, all at his alma mater, Mascenic. “I never anticipated coaching track when I started,” says Mike Smith, “I only wanted the cross country season. But there was a need so I said I would help out but I couldn’t commit fully to the program.” Now, 16 years down the road, Smith enjoys coaching both teams and even gets drawn into coaching the indoor program during the winter. “I try to give it up [indoor] every year,” jokes Smith, “but it’s good for those kids that use it to bridge the winter and start prepping for spring.”
Smith has seen his share of success in both cross country and track and field, with five cross country titles and numerous individual champions in cross and track. And while his athletes perform at the highest level across the state, a state title in track has eluded him. “The 2007 men’s team came in fourth, but it’s tough when you’re known as a distance program. I’d love to fill out the roster with more sprinters, jumpers and throwers, but we seem to grow distance kids. I’ve heard some say I can’t coach anything else, but I’ve had state champions in high jump, shot put and discus as well.”
Smith certainly isn’t complaining, thinking his overall philosophy and demeanor is better suited to the distance events than the more intense, higher energy sprints, throws and jumps. “It’s about a season’s worth of work, not just a singular performance. That translates better to endurance events and that’s where I’m comfortable.”
So while other sports dominate the headlines and get more attention with the public, three of the state’s best track coaches go about their business without regard to their sport’s visibility. “We don’t do this for the accolades,” quips Smith, “and while we’d love for our kids to get more recognition for the hard work they do, in the long run it doesn’t matter, the kids are better for it. And that’s what matters.”
All three teams will compete at Mascenic on May 7, beginning at 10 a.m.