Ben Reese features Upper Dublin coach Dave Koch attaining his 100th win and also talks with Continental Conference coach about the SOL’s potential parity this year.
By Ben Reese
Dave Koch hit 100 last week.
No, it has nothing to do with his age or his golf score.
The Upper Dublin golf coach won his 100th match as the leader of the Flying Cardinals. It puts him in unique company in the American Conference of the Suburban One League.
In fact, it puts him alone as the winningest coach in the conference.
"Most of the coaches (in the conference) are fairly young," Koch said. "In fact, I may be the elder statesman of the coaches.
"I have a lot of grey hair because of that. I probably would have all dark hair except for the golf team."
With his 100th victory, Koch joins Council Rock North coach Rich White and Central Bucks West coach Bob Schilling as the only active coaches with more than 100 wins. White has amassed 245 wins, and Schilling, who has been leading the Bucks since 1995, has won 185 matches.
"The kids were excited as was I," said Koch, who reached the milestone in nine years, averaging close to 12 ½ wins per year. "I've been very fortunate. I've had great kids and parents' support and that's really important to our team."
The players on the team were aware of how close their coach was to the milestone. But it didn't seem to add any pressure to the match against Upper Merion, which the Cards won 186-265 with Jack Melville shooting a 1-under 34 and David Kim firing a 37, Joe Kim and Brandon Jensen 38s and Michael Reed-Price a 39.
"He told us that this would be his 100th win," Melville said. "We played it just like another match like we do all year and we got the win.
"We felt like we would get the win. There wasn't much pressure.”
Rumors were circulating at the end of last year that Koch might be hanging up his coaching togs at the end of this season. However, those rumors might be just that -- rumors.
"I was thinking of retiring after this year," Koch explained. "Being retired, at my age, it gives me something to do so I'm having second thoughts. I may come back."
If so, his team will be ready to add some more wins to that 100-victory total.
Parity?-- It seems like, with graduation every spring, the power in SOL golf shifts.
The dominant teams have been in the National Conference for the last several years. Pennsbury and Council Rock North have led the way.
However, the Falcons have graduated the PIAA boys’ champion, Vinay Ramesh, and one of the most dominating girls around in Jackie Rogowicz. Rock North has lost, in the past few years, both Zach and Erica Herr. Erica was a two-time state champ.
The coaches of the Continental Conference feel that there might be a shift coming their way this season. At least, they think that parity might be right around the corner.
"I think the teams at the top are doing well in each of the conferences," Souderton coach Fred Cicacci said. "I don't know if the power structure has shifted. I see very good teams at the top of the conference.
"(Pennsbury and Council Rock North) we'll have to wait and see. They usually have some coming up and they usually are strong.
"Upper Dublin is always pretty strong. We've been pretty strong the past couple years.
"In our conference, North Penn, CB West, CB South, Hatboro are all going to be good. East always fields a good team. Away matches are going to be a pretty good challenge."
Pennridge coach Tim Rimmer is of the same mind as Cicacci.
"You've still got Upper Dublin," Rimmer said. "Those guys are always so solid.
"But this is not an easy conference. We're in pretty good shape.
"I don't know if we're as deep as we have been in the past, but I think the top three or four teams in our conference are really top notch. It's a battle in this conference."
Hatboro-Horsham coach Mike Harmon is rooting for the Continental Conference to take the lead.
"I think it's evening out a little bit," he said. "I think there are some guys in our conference who are seniors this year who have a shot at taking some spotlight.
"I would love to see it from our conference. "I would love to see this conference get back on top where we once were."
Nick Hood, the Quakertown coach, leans toward parity in the conference and the league.
"It's tough to put top to bottom a lineup of strength," Hood said, "so I'm hoping to see a little more parity on our part so we can compete a little bit and put up some good numbers.
"I feel that there's an ebb and flow every few years, the rise and fall. There's still some big names left."
However, CB West's Bob Schilling doesn't agree.
"I think some of the teams continue to stay good," he said. "I don't think you can ever count any of the teams kind of falling by the wayside. There's always a couple of sleepers coming in.
"I think the good teams will continue to stay pretty much good and the other teams are just getting a little better. Anybody can beat anybody nowadays.
"I think a lot of teams protect their home-course advantage and take a couple (wins) away and see how things fall at the end of the year. In general, our players are better than they were 10 years ago. I think, in general, the teams have just gotten much stronger."
How low can you go?-- Did anyone notice the score the Cardinals put up last week? Their 179 is as low as any team has gone in quite a while.
Jack Melville fired a 3-under 32 with four birdies. Joe Kim landed an even-par 35 and David Kim contributed a 36, Michael Reed-Price a 37 with two birdies and Brandon Jensen a 39 with one birdie.
It certainly sets the standard for other teams to shoot for.
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