FREEPORT — It’s not often that a brother and sister can compete in a high school team sport together. 

Such is the case with Molly and T.J. Whelan of Freeport High School. The siblings play together on the golf team, which will compete for the State Class B championship on Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. 

T.J. had the team’s top scoring average, while Molly was third this season, a campaign that saw the Falcons finish with a 12-1-1 record.

“Both were a big part of our team’s success and the reason why Freeport is playing in the Class B team state championship,” Falcons coach Jason Ouellette said.

It’s not just the stats they bring to the team. According to Ouellette, it’s much more than that.

“It’s a unique experience having siblings on the team. It creates almost a family atmosphere. T.J. and Molly get along well,” the first-year coach said. “They support each other and are genuinely happy for each other when they do well and are there for each other after a bad day on the course, and that carries over to everyone.”

Golf has always been in the Whelan family. Whether it be Molly and T.J.’s parents or grandparents, they were seemingly always around golf.

“I’ve been around golf my whole life,” T.J., a junior who has been playing competitively since the seventh grade, said. “I grew up around golf, playing with my grandfather and dad.”

For Molly, it didn’t start quite as early, but her passion for the sport has only grown over the past four years.

“I picked up a club for the first time on the first day of practice my freshman year,” Molly, who is a senior and captains the lacrosse team in the spring as well, said. “I had played some soccer and wanted to try something different. My brother played golf, so I wanted to give it a try. It didn’t come easy early on. I had my fair share of tough rounds. But it started all coming together the more I played.”

By coming together, Molly was improving her game as her freshman and sophomore years progressed, qualifying for the individual state tournament both in 2016 and 2017.

“I was learning that golf was different than a team sport. I was not only playing for my team, I was playing for myself and individual scores are important,” Molly, who went 14-0 in her matches this season, explained. “Golf has helped me in a plethora of ways, the top one being that the fact you’re playing for yourself, and what I do could also affect my team too. On the lacrosse field, it’s similar that your actions could let the team down, but in golf it’s different because it affects my position.”

Molly also realizes the rigors of the sport, and the mental aspect of it.

“Golf is really a mental sport. Being supportive with others after a tough round and knowing what to say has helped me in lacrosse,” she said.

“Molly is kind of like our ‘Team Mom.’ Even before I named her and Tom Robinson our captains, she was taking care of everybody. She has the ability to navigate the different groups of students on the team. She encourages our younger players and supports our veteran players as well,” Ouellette said. “Molly is one of our toughest golfers mentally. She never seems to let a bad shot or a bad bounce bother her during a match.”

Playing the sport longer than his sister, T.J. enjoyed some success early on in his high school career, also qualifying for the individual state tournament in 2017.

“I was fortunate my freshman year that I had some upperclassmen that embraced me and

welcomed me to the team. They helped me get better and taught me to put in the work in the summer and seeing the results that come with it,” T.J. said.

While neither qualified for the individual tournament in 2018, the pair enjoyed success along with their team, earning a third-place finish in Class B.

“While we didn’t do so well with anyone qualifying last year in Scarborough, our team came together and played some really good golf in the team tournament,” Molly said.

On Saturday, along with teammates Robinson, Finn Sharpe, Matt Kempf and Ian Carpenter, the siblings will play their last team event together in high school. Molly will graduate next spring and is considering colleges where she can possibly play both golf and/or lacrosse, and T.J. will finish out his junior year before becoming a senior next fall. The two have enjoyed the opportunity and both recognize the unique opportunity.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” Molly said about playing with her brother. “It’s never really felt like a sister and younger brother rivalry, it’s been a supportive relationship on the course. 

“There were a few times, I came home with a lower score and I made sure he knew it. We’re both competitive, as we come from a competitive family.”

“It’s been awesome having her on the team, even having her at practice, it’s not just the boys and it keeps things light. It’s something I’ll look back on,” T.J. said. “We’re not really competitive with one another on the course. She pushes me, not in my scores, but pushes me to have fun. She’s taught me about being a better leader on the team.”

“I think T.J. has learned a lot from Molly about what it means to be a leader, she has helped T.J. and others with the mental aspect of the game,” Ouellette added. “I think over the last few years, T.J. has helped Molly with some of the physical aspects of the game. He’s a really good ball striker and has helped Molly and some of our other golfers get better.”

Following the team championships on Saturday, Natanis will host the Individual State Championships on Oct. 12. After not qualifying last fall, both are eager to get back to it this year.

“Shooting with other girls was fun, getting their experiences,” Molly mentioned about qualifying last week with a score of 85. “I only played one other girl in a varsity match this year, so I had no idea what to expect.”

It’s not like she dislikes playing with the “guys” according to Molly.

“Personally, I think it’s super fun playing with the guys and seeing their skills. It can be intimidating, but it’s a fun challenge to know I can keep up with them and play at their level,” Molly said.

For T.J., once the team tourney is complete, he’s hoping for a better showing while making his return to the individuals.

“As a team, I want to do my job to help us place as high as we can,” said T.J., who shot a 78 and finished third in the Western Maine Conference qualifier. “Beyond that, I’m hoping to be up there on the leaderboard. I think I had a day my freshman year and I took that for granted my sophomore year. It pushed me to work more this summer, I’ll give it my best, it’s all I can do.”

But first, the Falcons will compete once again for the State Class B title, and Molly credits her first-year coach with pushing the team.

“Coach Jason has been a huge influence on our team. His knowledge and different ways of teaching us has prepared and benefitted our team,” Molly said.

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