This week's notebook features a Souderton golf team that is on the verge of capturing its second consecutive SOL Continental Conference title.
By Ben Reese
In this day and age, two-sport athletes are rare. They seem to have gone the way of the dodo bird.
But Souderton's Dawson Anders is one of those rarities. He is not only a prominent member of the Indians' undefeated golf team, but he is also the goalie for the ice hockey team that lost in the Flyers Cup title game to eventual state champion Central Bucks South last school year.
While some might consider these two sports to be opposite ends of the spectrum, Anders certainly doesn't.
"No, not really," he said. "They're two completely different sports so it isn't strange."
Maybe it isn't strange if you are a forward or a defenseman. But a goalie? How did that happen?
"I started out as a player," Anders said, "and then we needed a goalie so I said I'd do it. I was sort of forced into doing it."
But as the starting goalie on a championship-caliber team, how did golf come into play?
"My grandma got me started in it," he said. "I don't regret it because she's the whole reason I'm playing and I'm still playing."
So, which do you prefer?
"Probably golf," he said. "I want to do it in college."
As the third Anders to play golf for Souderton, he knows he has some big shoes to fill. His oldest brother Rodney is playing at Millersville and brother Clay plays for Cabrini.
"Yes, maybe do a little better," Dawson said when asked if he wanted to follow his brothers. "I like Temple, but I don't know. I haven't looked at schools much."
Perfectly understandable since he is only a sophomore.
Souderton coach Fred Cicacci knows about Anders' hockey exploits. He also knows that he wants him on the links this fall.
"I'm happy to say that as far as I know he's not playing any hockey during golf season, which is the way I like it," Cicacci said. "My main concern is that he gets hurt."
However, Anders isn't the only one standing out on the golf course. The Indians are undefeated in Suburban One League play.
Last year, Souderton had six seniors who led the program to a 12-2 SOL record and 15-3 overall mark. But all six graduated, leaving the Indians' underclassmen to go on.
"I knew we had about 4 3/4 golfers returning with experience," Cicacci said, "which means we had to replace 3 1/4 golfers and I wasn't sure how that was going to work out."
So far, so good.
"I don't think anyone really expected us to be doing as well," said Quinn Guzman, who returned for another season for Souderton. "But we've gotten better, a lot better.
"(Playing with last year's seniors) you could see how they practiced and how they acted and you could learn from them because they knew what works. They'd been through four years."
Anders agrees but has his own slant on things.
"I sort of forgot we had all the good players," he said, "but losing six seniors, that's like basically our entire team. I knew we had some good players left but I didn't think we could stay undefeated for the entire year."
Cicacci has noticed an upswing in the play of his golfers this season.
"We've had some golfers who have really played well, excuse me, really practice a great deal," the coach said.
"One of them is Nicholas Scott, a tenth grader, who has really gotten a world better than he was last year. He's under control, strong, very athletic.
"Adam Lowe is another one. He's really improved.
"He plays tournaments (in the summer) as does Nicholas. I don't think there's been a match that Adam wasn't in the top five.
"Quinn (Guzman) has been playing all kinds of tournaments all over the place. He's got teaching pros who have really helped him a great deal.
"Josh Williams is totally consistent. He's in the top five scorers all the time.
"Hirsh Sisodia has been doing a pretty good job as a junior." Sisodia played No. 1 on the Souderton jayvee last year.
"We got a surprise," Cicacci continued, "Anthony Barr, who's a freshman transfer from Lititz.
"Anthony got in touch with me about 2 1/2 weeks before the season via email, introduced himself, gave me his handicap differential and said that he's been playing tournaments.
"He's been up and down but he's getting invaluable experience this year. Things don't look bad for next year, but things look wonderful this year."
Oh, by the way, Dawson isn't the last Anders. He has a sister, who hasn't really taken up the game yet. After all, she's only 11.
What a way to finish:Cheltenham senior Jimmy Mundy closed out his high school golf career with a flourish in a match against Upper Merion.
After belting his drive on the 343-yard ninth hole, he looked to be in trouble after chunking his second shot. But that didn't prove to be the fact.
Mundy, standing 35 yards from the hole, took out his sand wedge and holed out for a birdie. That shot gave him a team record 33 at Melrose Country Club.
It was the first time that Mundy had ever holed out for a birdie in competition. It was made even more special because his father was standing by the green when the ball went in the hole.
Rolling along: Another team is cruising along through this season, the Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals.
So far, the Cardinals are undefeated in league play, 13-0, and are 15-1 overall. This is with pretty much the same cast that went 13-1 last year.
Jack Melville and Michael Reed-Price are leading the way for Upper Dublin. But they are getting lots of help from teammates Debbie Park, Matt Amey, David Kim, Luke Teesdale, Tyler Goldberg, Mark Lunney, Julianne Lee, Andy Dunnam and Cole Swiger.
That championship season: The SOL championships are fast approaching. The boys will play on Sep. 29 at Indian Valley Country Club and the girls on Oct. 1 at LuLu Country Club.
On the heels of that championship is the District One tournament. It will be held on Oct. 6-7 at Turtle Creek and Gilbertsville.
The Eastern Regional tournament will again be at Golden Oaks in Fleetwood. The one-day event will be on Oct. 14.
Heritage Hills in York will again host the PIAA championships. They will be on Oct. 20-21.
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