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 (Week of Dec. 12, 2012)
Taylor Matsinger’s soccer career at Central Bucks South started out with a limp. The CB South senior underwent knee surgery and spent her freshman year cheering from the sideline, watching as the Titans won a district championship, but her ordeal wasn’t over. The surgery and rehab didn’t take, and she had to have a second surgery and undergo another month of rehab before she was healthy again. Matsinger’s faith helped her get through the setback. “It really helped me come back stronger,” she said. Matsinger, a center midfielder who also was a co-captain, went on to become part of CB South’s continued success and growth as a program. She helped lead the Titans to three playoff appearances, including a pair of state berths. “She got better every year after she was injured,” coach Joe Bocklet said. “She’s a great student athlete. She’s had a lot of success off the field and in the classroom. She’s been a great model for the rest of the team.”
Matsinger is a National Merit Scholar, she is a member of student council, and she is taking four Advanced Placement courses this year after taking two last year. “On the field, during huddles and at practice, she always took leadership roles,” Bocklet said. “She was always one of our most consistent players and very productive.”
During the summer before starting high school, Matsinger found her faith. “The way God has changed my life is amazing,” she said. “My relationship with Him is the most important thing in my life. My identity and future are rooted in God.” Through her church, Matsinger is heavily involved in community outreach.
As a junior, Matsinger committed to play soccer at Temple where she plans to major in kinesiology and pursue an accelerated doctorate program in physical therapy.
To read Matsinger’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/taylor-matsinger-0030573
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Dec. 12, 2012)
Julian Antal could safely be called a late bloomer on the soccer field. As a freshman and sophomore, the Council Rock South senior played for the junior varsity, and there was nothing to suggest Antal was on his way to becoming one of the league’s elite players. But that’s exactly what happened. Antal, a first team all-league selection, recently earned a spot on the prestigious 2012 Pennsylvania All-State squad. “Teams had no answer for him,” coach Alan Nicholl said. “He’s so strong. He’s unusually big (6-3), and he’s so quick, and he’s very, very good with his feet. We designed most of our offensive schemes around his athleticism. He was unplayable, absolutely unplayable in some games.” Antal was the team’s top scorer with 14 goals from his center mid position. “He never played up top,” Nicholl said. “For a center midfielder, that’s pretty impressive, particularly in our league.”
Antal, who has been playing soccer since he was a youngster, stood all of 5-4 when he was a freshman. A year later, he was 5-10. “I got injuries from growing,” he said. “Because of that, I altered my style of play. Being injured, I couldn’t play as much, so I wasn’t in form, and I wasn’t playing well. I couldn’t keep up my fitness or anything like that.” As a junior, with his growth spurt behind him, Antal found himself in the starting lineup. “He did really well,” Nicholl said. “He was incredibly versatile, and he really started to use his size. He was probably one of our top players.” As a senior, he excelled. “A lot of my success comes from my teammates,” Antal said.
Antal has piqued the interest of more than a few college coaches. “I think he’s going to be one of these kids that’s going to slide under the radar and be a big success,” Nicholl said. Antal hopes to play soccer at the collegiate level, and although still undecided, he is considering Delaware, Millersville and Duquesne. An honors student, Antal plans to pursue a premed major. “Julian is a great kid,” said Nicholl. “He’s top drawer. He’s definitely one of the top five players to come out of Council Rock South, and we have had some good players here.”
To view Antal’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/julian-antal-0030593
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