Zach Frankenberg- From Mr. McLaughlin’s Mentor Group To Marquette

MILWAUKEE - Zach Frankenberg started his O’Dea golf career in the fall of 2018 for the O’Dea Fighting Irish as a freshman. He was part of the Fighting Irish 2019 team who won the Metro League championship; that team also qualified for the state tournament in 2020 (canceled cue to Covid) and was a captain as a senior in the fall of 2022 on a team which finished 4th in the state tournament. He now attends the University of Marquette located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Frankenberg made the decision to go to O’Dea to join the brotherhood and make lifelong friends. He noted that he wouldn’t have done anything differently in his choice of a high school because of the strong brotherhood that O’Dea has and maintains from the freshmen all the way to the seniors.

Frankenberg said, “When choosing O’Dea, I really wanted to join the brotherhood and I wouldn’t change my decision because I’ve made lifelong friendships that I could’ve only made at O’Dea.”

Frankenberg grew and learned a lot about golf throughout his career at O’Dea, especially on the mental side of the game, which can be challenging in such a technical sport. Frankenburg has applied what he learned in high school golf to college.

Frankenberg said, “I’ve learned a lot during my career at O’Dea, especially on the mental side of the game. Golf is a game where you’ve got to think you’re just playing yourself. In college it comes down to you, you have other people to help you but you’re the one who has to get stuff done.”

One of Frankenberg’s biggest mentors at O’Dea was Mr. McLaughlin being his mentor group teacher, teacher, and golf coach.

Frankenberg said, “I learned a lot from Mr. McLaughlin, on and off the golf course. A lot of things he taught me were about golf but also how to deal with life or your emotions.”

For Frankenberg it was more than just the lessons he learned from Mr. McLaughlin in the classroom or on the course, it was the lessons he learned on how to be a better leader as a mentor group captain or how to approach a situation where you might be overwhelmed or frustrated. Clearly, Mr. McLaughlin had a positive impact and built skills that will certainly be beneficial for Frankenberg as he moves through his college life at Marquette and beyond.

Frankenberg and the Fighting Irish had their 2020 state tournament taken from them despite playing every other part of the season in the fall of 2019. So, for Frankenberg qualifying for the state tournament again in 2022 was special.

“One of my best memories at O’Dea was playing in the state golf tournament this past spring for my senior year, even though we didn’t win state it felt good to be able to compete with my brothers one last time at the biggest stage of the season.”

Frankenberg was clearly a leader on and off the golf course during his 4 years at O’Dea and will definitely carry those skills on at Marquette and throughout the rest of his life.