SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete for week of Jan. 27, 2020
Maddie Anderson’s soccer journey was not always easy, but the Pennridge senior was a study in perseverance and is living proof that there are happy endings. As a matter of fact, it couldn’t have ended on a higher note for the senior standout, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches Regional All-American squad as well as the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State team. Those honors came on the heels of signing a letter of intent in November to play soccer at Saint Joseph’s University. “One of my favorite expressions is ‘earn your victory,’ and she’s earned her victory,” said Quakertown coach Mike Koch, who coached Anderson on FC Bucks. “She earned it through a lot, a lot of hard work. I don’t think I know any kid that works as hard outside of practice, in practice, plays every game like it matters the same, never takes any time off and truly works hard. Another part of her story is – this isn’t a kid that was the best 12-year-old because she wasn’t. She wasn’t what she is now. She definitely worked hard, she has a love for the game, and she has an understanding of the game and made herself dynamic as a player in the midfield.”
Anderson was a catalyst at central midfield on a Pennridge squad that captured the SOL Continental Conference title, the District One 4A championship and advanced to the PIAA 4A state semifinals. Not because of the goals she scored but rather because of her consistently excellent play. “She was such a strong player with the ball,” said Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson, who also happens to be Maddie’s mother. “Her ability in the air was amazing, and it was not easy for players to get the ball from her. She wasn’t a huge goal scorer, but what she did without putting the ball in the back of the net was just as important. She was a very impactful player.”
Anderson has been playing competitively since she was a youngster, and she found out early on that having her mother as a coach would provide its own unique challenges. “Once I got to an age where there were A and B teams and my mom was the coach of one of them - people were like, ‘You don’t deserve to be on this team. You’re on this team because it’s your mom,’” Maddie said. “No forth or fifth grader wants to hear – you’re not good enough to be on this team. Hearing those kind of things, especially as a young kid, it was like – is this even worth it? I can’t even tell you how many conversations I’ve had with my mom, telling her I don’t know if I can do it, but she’s truly been with me every step of the way, saying ‘You can do it.’”
Koch, who coached Anderson on the club level, was one of many coaches there to support her. “She was able to work through a lot of difficult issues that would have done a lot of lesser people in,” he said. “She definitely paid the price for being the coach’s daughter, and she never stopped competing. She competes as hard as she possibly can all the time. The price she paid was pretty high. All the things she earned – there’s always somebody saying, ‘It’s because…’ That’s why I’m excited for her in college. I believe she’ll be really, really successful. At the end of the day when all the games are done being played and sport is over – what kind of person you develop into is the most important thing, and she earned her victory.”
Anderson chose St. Joe’s from an impressive final list that included Delaware, Winthrop, Temple, VCU and Drexel. Although soccer is her passion, Anderson always puts academics first. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is part of NOVA.
To read Anderson’s complete profile, please click on the following link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/maddie-anderson-0089533
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete for week of Jan 27, 2020
Bill Neely laughed when he was asked if it was a realistic ambition for one of his track runners to walk on to the team next season at Saint Joseph’s University. “Most of my athletes have the capability of walking on (to college programs),” Neely said. “One thing I’ve realized is that once they walk on, they come back to Abington to do my workouts.” The Abington head track coach’s point was clear: running in this program prepares you for what comes next. It creates structure and discipline within you, something that sticks with you for the long haul. It sure has for Kevin Dennin, and he’s still running for Neely, enduring the legendary coach’s grueling workouts. “Track has become such a huge part of my life,” Dennin said. “I couldn’t even imagine how different everything would be without it. The practices are college-level, one of the hardest across the entire state. It’s unparalleled, and I’ll miss that feeling. I hope I am able to walk on, because it’s been a huge part of my life the last four years.”
It took Dennin his entire freshman campaign to allow his body to catch up to Neely’s rigorous training schedule. Dennin ran the 4x400 with three seniors most of the season. The team qualified for states, but Dennin came down with the flu before the race and ended up going as an alternate. Once outdoor season came calling, Dennin was determined in a way he’d never been before. Despite battling injuries, illnesses and some seriously inclement weather at races down the stretch, the Abington 4x400 relay team qualified for states, seeded 16th out of a possible 16 teams. Determined to “shock the world,” Dennin and company did just that, finishing in fourth place, mere milliseconds from a top-three finish. Dennin dedicated his state medal to his uncle who had recently passed away. Abington had to replace two legs of that relay team going into Dennin’s junior year, and although the team ran well at times, it was the first time in 27 years that Neely didn’t end up taking a team to the state meet, which left Dennin even more fiercely determined heading into his senior year.
During cross country season last fall, an aunt who Dennin was close to passed away, sending him into a two-to-three week stretch where he admitted he was “not thinking straight.” But he’s started to get his mojo back during the current indoor season. Dennin is ranked around 20th in the state in the 400m, while the 4x400 relay team is ranked sixth and the 4x800 is seventh. He said he hopes to lower his individual 400 time in the coming weeks so that he could qualify for states himself, but if not, both relay teams are well-positioned with about a month to go in the season. “I want to bring home a state medal for my aunt just like I was able to bring one home for my uncle my sophomore year,” Dennin said
The big picture for Dennin - who is in the top 15th percentile of his class - is most likely to attend Saint Joseph’s University, study Sports Management and walk on to their track team. He still volunteers with a club he first joined in junior high, Teens Against Drugs and Alcohol. He also has helped raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand with the Lemon Club and is a member of the National Honor Society. Neely has coached a lot of runners over the years, and he firmly believes Dennin is poised for future success. “Not only does he work hard and do whatever I ask him to do, but he asks questions about how he did,” Neely said. “Most kids don’t usually do that; they just run. He’s a hard worker interested in how he can get better, and certain things you just can’t deny: if I had four of him on a relay team, we’d be really good. He communicates and he keeps the team together. We’ll miss his commitment, participation and general attitude toward running.”
To read Dennin's complete profile, please click on the following link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/kevin-dennin-0089534
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