Cheverus golf repeats as Class A champion
Cheverus Stags Clinch Class A State Golf Title at Natanis
Vassalboro, Oct. 12 – The Cheverus Stags secured the Class A state golf championship Friday afternoon, defeating a field that included Falmouth, Messalonskee, Thornton Academy and two Portland‑area schools. The team finished 304, nine strokes ahead of runner‑up Falmouth (314). Individual medalist honors went to Cheverus junior Sam Sirois, who shot an even‑par 72.
A Season of Persistence
The championship took place at Natanis Golf Course, a familiar venue that hosted the State Middle‑School Association (SMAA) tournament earlier in the week. The Stags had already tasted victory that week, when Falmouth captured the SMAA title by shooting 304, a score that eclipsed Cheverus by nine strokes. While the Stags were unable to keep pace in that contest, they used the experience to regroup for the state championship.
“Going into this, we didn’t really think we had a shot,” said Sirois, who had tied for second in the individual competition last year. “I’m really glad we got it done.” The junior’s 72 was powered by 11 greens in regulation and four birdies—including a 20‑foot putt on the fourth hole that kept his round on track.
Sirois noted the collective effort that led to the team’s success. “Teamwise, I knew we all had to play well. I didn’t want to let my teammates down,” he said. His teammate Keane McGrath, who posted a 76 with 13 pars and an eagle on the par‑5 third, echoed the sentiment. “I guess it was Cheverus’ day today. We did really well, everyone kind of came together,” McGrath said. “Everyone was very focused this morning, it was a different mood than the SMAA.”
The Lineup That Made the Difference
The Stags fielded eight players who tied for second place with 76s, including Joe Stratman and Dante Iannetta of Falmouth. Stratman had an improved round, dropping from an 81 at the SMAA to a 76 with four birdies. He attributed his performance to the pressure of the event. “I fed off the pressure, it’s one of the greatest things to do,” he said. “I shot 106 in the qualifiers last year. It really pushed me to work harder.”
Other members of the second‑place group were Charlie Sands (Gorham), Greyson Dooley (Messalonskee), Jacoby Harvey (Bangor), Caleb Greenleaf (Mt. Ararat) and Sawyer Poland (Oxford Hills). Dooley, who had earned first place at the KVAC qualifier, noted that his round hinged on his mental game and putting. “It was basically putting today that saved me,” he said. “It was mostly just a mental game out there, and having to just stay through it the rest of the round.”
Cheverus coach Billy Goodman, who had previously used a similar pep talk to rally his girls’ basketball team, reminded the golfers of the importance of focus and preparation. “I told my team going back to Portland, it was kind of like the halftime speech for my basketball team,” Goodman said. “If they shoot like that again, they’re going to win. But we just had a really good week of practice. A lot of kids focused and did better than Monday.”
Girls Division: A Shared Title
In the girls’ competition, the title was shared by Lila Dailey of Camden Hills and Jacquelin Sirois of Cheverus, both finishing with 97 strokes. The dual victory marked another milestone for the Cheverus program, which had also won the boys’ state title this season.
The Bigger Picture
The Cheverus victory follows a strong tradition of success in Maine high‑school golf. In 2025, the Stags captured the state championship, with Mick Madden as the medalist and Sirois as the runner‑up. This season’s win solidifies the program’s reputation for depth and resilience.
Falmouth’s Dante Iannetta, who tied for second place in the individual contest, reflected on the team’s effort. “I hit the ball pretty solid all day, it’s just putts didn’t fall,” he said. “Golf’s a game that happens on one day. When a tournament’s only one day long, anything can happen. It’s tough. I believe we could have gone lower than 304, but it just wasn’t today. It’s unfortunate.”
With the championship over, the Stags’ players will celebrate the culmination of a season built on hard work, strategic play and the ability to rise to the occasion. The next chapter for the team will come with the challenge of defending their title in 2027, but for now, the Cheverus golfers can enjoy the sweet taste of victory.
