WHATLEY — Connor Bagdon watched the Frontier Regional boys soccer team win its second consecutive Western Massachusetts title last fall from the stands.
The then-sophomore possessed the talent to play for the Red Hawks but instead decided to keep playing in the New England Revolution Academy system like the previous season.
Watching the boys he’d grown up playing with celebrate on the turf at Westfield State sparked something in Bagdon.
He decided not to play for the Revolution after finding a spring club team he would play for, and told the Frontier players he would suit up for them in the fall.
“I went to a bunch of the games last year, and seeing them win Western Mass, I wanted to try and do that again,” Bagdon said. “Maybe go even farther this year.”
He texted Frontier senior Zach Hamilton and told him how excited he was to play for Frontier and wouldn’t stop talking about it during the spring.
“Last year I feel like he regretted not playing,” Hamilton said. “In the spring, he seemed super excited and just kept talking about that he wanted to win a state title, especially. He just kept talking about how he wanted to join us.”
Hamilton relayed that information to Frontier coach Dale Totman, who finally allowed himself to get excited. Totman knew how good Bagdon was. He played for Frontier as an eighth-grader and might have been good enough to start on varsity, but Totman has a rule about not taking middle schoolers on varsity unless he had to because of numbers.
Bagdon played his eighth grade year on junior varsity and scored 15 goals with 30 assists.
As his freshman year rolled around, Totman heard rumors Bagdon would play with Frontier. He decided to play for the Revolution.
The same thing happened his sophomore year, so Totman didn’t hope too hard for 2017.
Bagdon’s confirmation text arrived in early August.
“Then I got a little bit excited,” Totman said. “I sent him a text saying I haven’t pressured you but I’m really happy you’re coming to play.”
Totman never pestered Bagdon to play for the Red Hawks. He understood the challenging position having played high-level club soccer when he was younger.
“Becoming a man you’ve got to make your own decisions,” Totman said. “I didn’t want to pressure him.”
Once Bagdon officially joined the Red Hawks, he instantly became the team’s best player, Totman said. That’s no small feat considering Frontier has won back-to-back sectional titles and brought back eight starters.
“It gives us this confidence. We know we have the best player on the field, so far he has been. Having that presence gives everyone else that confidence,” Totman said. “He’s a very intelligent player. He knows what everyone should be doing.”
Badgon plays as a center attacking midfielder for Frontier. He situates himself at the front of the midfield and primarily serves as an orchestrator and passer to the forwards.
“I feel like our system is now built around how he plays with everyone,” Hamilton said. “It works really well.”
At 6 feet tall, Badgon is strong enough to hold the ball and savvy enough to make the right pass.
“He controls the game. He rarely loses the ball,” Totman said. “He’s also a dual threat. He can score, which I didn’t know. He kind of just has everything.”
It’s a different role than he played for the Revolution’s academy teams. He was a defender for the Revs and was tasked with stopping the plays he now creates. New England declined an interview request regarding Bagdon’s time with its academy.
Bagdon leads the Red Hawks with four goals and two assists through six games.
“I like it a lot more,” Bagdon said. “I grew up playing this role.”
His addition displaced Hamilton, forcing him farther up the field to forward. He doesn’t mind the change.
“I like having another really good passer and being able to always have someone who you know will get you the ball back,” Hamilton said. “It’s nice having the security there.”
Bagdon’s assimilation with the team hasn’t caused friction. His teammates have welcomed him, but his approach made it easy to accept.
“He hasn’t had an ego like ‘I’m the Revs guy, you all should listen to me,’” Totman said. “He’s slowly integrated himself.”
He’s earned the respect of his teammates with how he’s played and carried himself.
“Whenever he talks, everyone listens,” Totman said.
Bagdon also provides an inspiration and an example. The Red Hawks want to play at a higher level with him.
“I feel like he’s been pushing us, showing us what’s the expectation of an academy player,” Frontier senior Alex Gheorghita said. “We try to be around his level.”
He fits in off the field as well as on it.
“They love it. They’re happy he’s with us,” Totman said. “The dynamic is great.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.