First Inductee Class, November,
2006
Harold Helveston:
Harold
(Hap) Helveston has long been deceased, but is still considered the founder of
the Lower Merion High School Boy’s Soccer Program. Before coming to Lower
Merion he graduated from Haverford College, and first taught night classes at
Temple. When he came to Lower Merion he became a teacher in the math
department. Harold was instrumental in helping to form the very 1st boy’s
soccer team in 1924, and coached for 18 years until 1941. According to the
archives, that 1st team had a record of 7-5-4. There is no evidence that Lower
Merion played in a formal high school soccer league until 1931. But in the 1st
11 years of league play, Lower Merion, under coach Helveston, finished in 1st
place 5 times, and in 2nd place the other 6. District playoffs did not begin
until 1954, long after Coach Helveston had retired. His 18 year coaching record
was 146-72-40. Upon retirement, in the early 60’s, Harold became a world
traveler. He visited 49 of the 50 states, as well as every continent except
South America.
The MVP
award, which has been given out to the varisty’s most valuable player for the
past 30+ years, is named in his honor.
--------------------------------------
Robert W. Robinson:
Robert W. Robinson:
Robert (Robby) Robinson graduated from West Chester University in
1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. In 1966 he accepted a
teaching position in the Mathematics Department at Lower Merion High School.
Ten years later Robby became the Chairman of that Department.
He began coaching soccer at the J.V. level in 1967. After one year he then became the head
varsity coach. In his first year as varsity coach, Lower Merion went 14-1-1,
winning the Central League Title, the PIAA District 1 Title, and then defeated
ELCO High School, from PIAA District 3, on corner kicks in Inter-District
play. Robby continued as the
varsity soccer coach at Lower Merion for 23 more years, making him the longest
tenured head varsity coach in the history of Lower Merion soccer. During that time his teams had a
combined record of 214-119-65, won 6 Central League Titles, 2 PIAA District 1
Titles, and 1 PIAA State Championship 1n 1987. Lower Merion also played in two additional state
championship games under the guidance of Robby in 1984 and 1988. He was named the Pennsylvania Soccer
Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1984.
In addition to coaching Lower Merion’s soccer team, Robby has also
been involved in the growth of soccer on the local, state, and national
level. He is a co-founder of the
Radnor Soccer Club. He is also a
co-founder, past treasurer, and past president of the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Soccer Coaches Association. In
1972 Rob founded the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (PSCA) and was
their first Executive Secretary, serving in that position until 1979. In this
position, Rob was instrumental in creating the first All State Soccer Team
(1972) and the PIAA state wide playoff system (1973). Also in 1972, Rob was elected as Treasurer for the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and thus began a long and
involved connection that continues to this day. Rob served on the NSCAA Executive Committee and Board of
Directors for 25 years as Treasurer (1972-92), Vice President (1992-95), and
President (1995).
Robby continues to serve the soccer community as the NSCAA’s
Convention Manager where he oversees their Annual Convention. He lives in Wayne
with his wife Kate and has 4 grown children.
----------------------------------------
Bob Davidson:
Bob (“B”) Davidson played soccer for Lower Merion in the Fall of
1961, 1962, and 1963. During that time the Lower Merion varsity went 30-9-4. In
his senior year, the Aces went undefeated in league play, won the Surburban 1
Title, and went on to the District 1 finals, losing to Upper Darby 1-0. Bob led
the team in scoring, and was chosen 1st-team All-League, as well as being
elected to the Philadelphia All-Scholastic team.
After Lower Merion, Bob went on to become a 3-year varsity starter
for East Stroudsburg University, leading the team in scoring all three years
and into the NCAA Division 1 Tournament his Junior year. He was chosen to the
All-Conference team all three years, and named the team’s Most Valuable
Offensive Player in both his junior & senior years. As a Senior co-captain,
Bob was named to the NCAA Regional All-America team.
Upon graduation, Bob took a job teaching physical education in Lower
Merion School District. He also coached soccer at Lower Merion High School for
a total of 23 years, at the J.V., Assistant Varsity, and Head Varsity levels.
During that time his Lower Merion teams had a total combined record of
269-73-74, won 5 Central League titles, 1 District One title, and a PIAA State
title. In his 14 year tenure at the varsity level, the Aces qualified for the
State Playoffs 5 times, and the District Playoffs every year but his first. He also
founded the Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Association, that boasts a membership of
over 200 former Aces players.
Twenty eight years ago, while working for the Lower Merion Township
Recreation Department, Bob began an extensive township soccer program that
still exists today. It included youth summer soccer clinics, youth winter
indoor soccer clinics, as well as high school & open division summer soccer
leagues and winter indoor soccer leagues. He also coached for 6 years in the
Delco Soccer League, as a club coach as well as a Select coach. He recently
retired and is living in Haverford Township with his wife Mary Ann. He has 3
grown boys, who, oddly enough, are all accomplished soccer players.
----------------------------------------------
Jeffrey Rhodes:
Jeffrey Rhodes:
Jeffrey played varsity soccer for Lower Merion in 1962, 1963, and
1964. During that time Lower
Merion posted a 41-6-1 overall record, winning the league title all three
years. During his senior year,
Jeffrey was named All-League 1st team, and to the Philadelphia All-Scholastic
Team. In the annual game between
the Philadelphia All-Scholastic Team and the New York All-Scholastic Team, held
at Randall’s Island Stadium in New York, Jeffrey was honored as the game’s Most
Valuable Player. In addition, Jeffrey
played lacrosse in his junior & senior year and was named to the
Pennsylvania and Delaware All-State Lacrosse Team.
Jeffrey continued to play soccer and lacrosse at the University of
Pennsylvania. During his career,
Jeffrey was a leading scorer in both soccer and lacrosse at Penn, and in the
Ivy League, making the All-Ivy Teams in both sports, as well as playing in the
NCAA Soccer Tournament during his senior year. While pursuing his MBA at The Wharton School, Jeffrey
continued to play club soccer and lacrosse, and later served as the assistant
head lacrosse coach at Yale while pursuing additional post-graduate work.
Jeffrey serves on the Board of Overseers at Penn and is active on the
advisory committees for both The Real Estate School at Wharton and the Penn
Athletic Department. Through his
continued generosity to the Penn soccer program, the soccer stadium was named
Rhodes Field in 1990. In
recognition of the Century of Soccer at Penn, Jeffrey was also honored in 2005
when he was named to their 1965-1974 All-Decade Team.
During his 37 year career, Jeffrey has worked for some of the largest
and most prominent real estate development companies in over 25 cities. Best known projects include Copley
Place in Boston, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Pebble Beach, Aspen Skiing Company,
and One Logan Square and the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. Jeffrey is currently president of The
Rhodes Company and returned to Lower Merion Township from Seattle 7 years ago with
his wife, Katie, and their twins Nicolas & Lauren.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Davidson:
Steve (“S”) Davidson played varsity soccer for Lower Merion in the
Fall of 1963, 1964, & 1965. During that time the Lower Merion varsity
posted a 41-4-2 overall record, went undefeated in league play all three years,
and won the District 1 Title in 1965. Steve was an all-league 1st team pick in
both his junior & senior years, as well as captain, and a Philadelphia
All-Scholastic selection in his senior year. His boy’s varsity scoring records
at LM of most career goals (64), and most goals in a single season (31) still
stand today. In 1999, girl’s varsity soccer star Leah Greenspoon broke Steve’s
school record with her 65th career goal, which ironically was assisted by
Steve’s daughter Findley. Both of Steve’s children played soccer for Lower
Merion; Findley was a four year starter on the girl’s varsity team (1996 thru
1999), and Todd a two year starter on the boy’s team (1994 & 1995). Both
were All-League selections in their senior years.
After graduating from Lower Merion, Steve went to Princeton, where
he became a three year varsity starter on the Tiger’s soccer team. He was an
All-Ivy League selection all three years, chosen to the All-East team as a
junior & senior, and, as a senior, was the Captain of the team and chosen
to the NCAA All-America Team. He also won the team’s Most Valuable Player award
as a senior. His scoring records for career goals (43), and most goals in a
single season (20) still stand at Princeton.
Upon graduation, Steve taught at The Haverford School for two years.
He then got involved with Home Box Office as an Account Manager, and rose
through the ranks to his current position of Executive Vice President of
Affiliate Sales. He currently resides in Lower Merion Township with his wife
Ollie.
-----------------------------------------------
Drew Misher:
Drew Misher was a 3 year varsity starter for Lower Merion’s soccer
team in 1985, 1986, & 1987. The team’s record during his 3 years was
57-8-11, and, in all 3 years, the Aces won the Central League Championship. LM
also qualified for the District & State Playoffs all 3 years, and in Drew’s
senior year, the Aces won the PIAA State Title. As a senior tri-captain, Drew
was chosen to the All-Central League 1st team, the All-State team, and was the
1st soccer player in Lower Merion history to be named to the National Soccer
Coaches Association High School All-American team, which began in 1972. He also
led the team in scoring with 22 goals & 7 assists, despite playing out of
the center midfield position. For his career he had 40 goals & 13 assists.
His biggest goal was the State Championship game winner in overtime against Fox
Chapel, his final game in an Ace’s uniform.
After Lower Merion, Drew played varsity soccer at William &
Mary, where he received a degree in International Relations. He then went on
and earned an MBA from Temple. He became a partner in a consulting firm called
Silver Oaks Partners. He now lives in the Lower Merion area with his wife Lisa
and their 3 children, and is active as a coach in the community soccer program.
-----------------------------------------------------
Jason DiLullo:
Jason DiLullo was a 3 year varsity goalkeeper for Lower Merion’s
soccer team in 1986, 1987, & 1988. The team’s record during his 3 years in
goal was 61-7-14, while winning 2 Central League Championships, a District 1
Title, and a PIAA State Crown. Jason was voted the team’s outstanding defensive
player in his Junior & Senior years, as well as being elected to the
All-Central League team both years. Jason still holds the school record of 17
shutouts in a single season, but his 30 career shutout record fell this year to
another outstanding LM goalkeeper, Drew Kotler.
After Lower Merion Jason went on to play 4 years for Brown
University, which has now become a perennial NCAA division 1 contender. He
graduated in 1993 with an AB in Organization Behavior & Management (with
honors) as well as International Relations. He has worked in the mergers &
acquisitions department of global banks his entire professional career. He now
lives in San Francisco with his wife of 5 years and his young son. He has still
stayed active in soccer, playing in recreational leagues, and is now doing some
youth coaching.
------------------------------------------------
William Kohler:
William
(Will) Kohler was a 3 year varsity starter for Lower Merion’s soccer team in
1990, 1991, & 1992. The team’s record during his 3 years was 40-13-10, and
in all three years the Aces qualified for the District 1 Playoffs, winning the
Central League Title in 1990. After being chosen to the All-Central League 2nd
team as a sophmore, Will became one of the most dominant players in the Central
League in his Junior & Senior years. He led both the team, and the league,
in scoring both years, totaling a combined 46 goals and 36 assists. He was
chosen 1st team All-Central League as a Junior and a Senior, and was
named the league’s MVP his Senior year. He also made the All-State team each year
as well. In addition, Will was named to the NSCAA High School All-America team
both years, being only one of two Lower Merion players ever to achieve this
honor.
While
in High School Will also played for the U-17 National Team, and participated in
the Junior World Cup held in Italy. Upon graduation he attended Harvard
University, where he was a 3-year starter and an All-Ivy selection all three
years. As a Senior he was named the Ivy League’s Player of the Year. In 1997
Will was drafted 14th overall in the MLS draft by the New York-New Jersey
Metrostars.
After
graduating with honors from Harvard, with a B.A. in economics, Will was a
co-founder of a facilities-based communications provider called Pointe
Communications. Currently he works at Prism Venture Partners in Boston, MA, and
lives in Duxbury, MA with his wife Devon and his 18 month old daughter.
Second Inductee Class, January,
2007
Tom Farr:
Tom Farr played
soccer for Lower Merion from 1971–1973 under Coach Rob Robinson. After graduation he went on to play for
Dr. John McKeon at East Stroudsburg State College from 1974-1977. After college he played with numerous
clubs in the area up until 2006, which includes the Lower Merion Recreational
league, the Philadelphia Cricket Club, the United League, Berks United and West
Bradford.
Tom was a Lower
Merion High School Varsity Assistant coach in 1978, he coached the Drexel Hill
Junior High team from 1979–1981, Upper Darby Freshman Soccer team in 1982–1983,
and since 1984 has been the Head Soccer Coach at Upper Darby High School. His
current overall Varsity record is 184-201-53. His Upper Darby team has won numerous Central League
sportsmanship awards since the inception of the award 12 years ago. Under Tom, the Upper Darby team won the
Central League title in 2004 and has appeared in the PIAA District One
play-offs in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Tom currently serves as the Mathematics Supervisor for Upper Darby
School District.
Along the way
Tom has been very active in community soccer. He has been involved in numerous soccer camps, including the
Delco Soccer Camp, the Delco Select Soccer Camp, the Marlton NJ girls’ soccer
camp, and the Lower Merion recreation soccer camp.
He was also the
Lower Merion Indoor league Director from 1985–1987 and the Lower Merion Outdoor
league Director from 198 –1989.
In addition, Tom
has been involved in soccer at both the State and National Levels in the
following capacities: he is a
member of both the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association and the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America; he is currently the Central League
Representative to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association; and is also the
Central League Boys soccer chair.
He has been Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association
(1993–2003), the Vice President of the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association
(2004–2006) and is presently the President of the Pennsylvania Soccer Association. In the years 1999, 2002 and 2006 Tom
was the Local Committee co-chair of the National Soccer Coaches Association
annual convention when it was held in Philadelphia. From 2000 to the present he serves at the National Soccer
Coaches Association Assistant Program Coordinator.
Tom has been
married since 1992 to his wife Kim, who teaches Spanish at Academy Park High
School. They have two daughters. Darri
is a sophomore at New York University and Hallie is in pre-kindergarten.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Hill:
Robert
(Bob) Hill has long been deceased, but is still considered one of the most
successful coaches in Lower Merion High School Boy’s Soccer history. After
graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he began his tenure at Lower
Merion as a teacher in the math department. He first served as assistant coach
to Harold Helveston for several years in the late 30’s and early 40’s, then Bob
took over the head job in 1942. He coached boy’s soccer for 17 years, from 1942
to 1959, and accumulated an overall record of 225-51-46 while winning 11
Suburban 1 League titles (including 7 straight) and 2 District 1 titles. He
then passed the baton to Charles Kerner, another math teacher, in 1960. When
Mr. Kerner took emergency leaves in 1962 & 1965, Bob came back and coached
the team in his absence, winning another League & District title in 1965
when his team went 17-1. This brought his total record at Lower Merion to
231-55-48, and to this day, Bob remains the winningest boy’s soccer coach in
the history of the school.
Bob had
three daughters, one of which, Mina, married longtime Lower Merion physical
education teacher and coach Bud Cantigalli. Soccer continues to be a part of
the Hill family tree as just recently Bob’s great granddaughter Jocelyn, also a
soccer coach, was inducted into the girl’s soccer Hall of Fame at Central
Dauphin High School.
Third Inductee Class, January,
2008
Jon Hanks:
Jon was the very first freshman to play boy’s varsity soccer at
Lower Merion High School, and was a 4 year starter from 1991 thru 1994. The
team’s record during those 4 years was 50-22-14, while qualifying for the
District 1 playoffs each year. Over those 4 years Jon accumulated 55 goals
& 32 assists, putting him in the top 3 scorers in Lower Merion boy’s soccer
history. In both his junior & senior years he was the team’s captain, the
league’s high scorer, chosen to the All-Central League first team, as well as
being an All-State selection. He is also one of only 3 Aces players to be
chosen to the High School All-America team as both a junior & senior.
After graduating from Lower Merion, Jon went on to play soccer at
Lafayette University, where, as a freshman, helped lead them to their first
ever NCAA tournament birth. Quite an accomplishment for the smallest Division I
program in the country. As a result of his stellar play and leadership
qualities, Jon was named captain of the team in both his sophmore & junior
years, before injuries ended his college career short of his final season.
Currently, Jon is a working as a contract attorney at Morgan, Lewis
& Bockius in Philadelphia, and is an active member of the Pennsylvania bar
association.
Fourth Inductee Class, January,
2009
Doug Brown:
Doug was a 3-year starter for Lower Merion from 1973-1975. As a sophomore
forward he earned All-League recognition. Doug moved up to midfield as a
junior, and, scheduled to be the go to guy in the middle for the Aces, he
sustained broken bones in his right foot in the first game of the season.
Despite playing hurt the entire season, he still managed good numbers and
helped keep LM in every game. As a healthy senior co-captain, he led the Aces
to their first winning season in several years, and was named 1st
team All-Central League. He was also named to the All-District team, and chosen
as the team MVP.
Doug won a total of 5 varsity letters while at LM, and, as a senior, he
won the Dave Erickson Outstanding Player award as the 3rd baseman
for the LM baseball team.
After Lower Merion, Doug was a 4-year varsity starter at center
midfield for Moravian College’s men’s soccer team. In a distinguished career,
the Moravian team went 38-16-9, was often nationally ranked, and played in the
post-season playoffs in 3 of his 4 years. Over his college career he
accumulated 30 goals and 15 assists, playing out of the midfield. In both his
junior & senior seasons he was chosen 1st-team All-Middle
Atlantic Conference, as well as also being named conference MVP both years. As
a senior co-captain, Doug was named NCAA Player of the Week during the season,
and achieved 1st-team All-America status.
During both his high school & college careers, he served as a coach
& referee in the LM recreation youth soccer association, assisted numerous
clinics, and coached for the Middle States Soccer Camp at Ursinus College. He
was also the associate director for the Bethlehem recreation department’s
Soccer-at-Night program for disadvantaged children.
Doug has worked and served for the past 20 years in public school,
university, and college dining services, winning numerous achievement awards.
He is currently the Senior Regional Director for a nationwide dining service
contractor, and lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with his wife Joanne. They have
4 grown children living in various cities in the eastern United States.
--------------------------------------------------
John Wynn:
John played defense (called left fullback in those days) for the Aces,
and was a 3-year starter in ’42, ’43, & ’44. During that time his teams won
the Suburban One league all 3 years, compiling a total record of 35-6-5. In his
senior year John was chosen captain of his team, picked for the All-Suburban
league 1st team, as well as being named to the All-Scholastic team.
Also, in that ’44 season, John, along with his teammates, only allowed 5 goals
the entire season (still sharing an LM team record with the ’67 team),
including going unscored upon in league play.
After the ’44 season, John played on the American Reserves/Hosiery club
team, until he entered Lafayette College in the fall of ’45. At that time,
because of World War II, Lafayette had temporarily dropped the men’s soccer
program. Undeterred, John asked for a key to the uniform bin, recruited players
from around campus, and temporarily reinstated the program for a 4 game season.
After that season John went into the service for a year and a half,
during which time Lafayette hired a new soccer coach to keep the program going.
When John came back, he was named the co-captain of the team, and in his senior
year was chosen to the All-America 2nd team, and awarded one of the
first “Hurlbert Awards” at Lafayette.
After college John joined the Germantown Cricket Club team, who
dominated the league for years, and who played one year in an international
tournament in Bermuda. After 5 years he joined the Merion Cricket Club team,
became chairman of soccer, and started an area youth soccer program for boys
& girls. In 1968, John started the first junior boy’s club soccer team in
Lower Merion, and in 1972 did the same for the girls. He coached youth soccer
for 15 years, and was awarded the “Pioneer Award” by the Delco Soccer League.
John continued to play in the Cricket Club League until he was 45, and was a
big international soccer fan, going to the World Cup in France in 1998. And in
the early 60’s, when the US women’s team was in it’s infancy, he saw them play
their 1st international match against China at the UGH field up in
Neshaminy.
John is currently a quantitative choice portfolio manager for Wells
Fargo in Philadelphia, and lives in Gladwyne with his wife Peggy. They have 2
grown children, a son John III, who lives in Cheltenham, and a daughter Amy,
who is based at Fort Bragg, CA.
Fifth Inductee Class, January,
2010
Chris Schreiner:
Chris Schreiner was a 3-year varsity starter for Lower Merion’s soccer
team in 1986, 1987, & 1988. The team’s record during those years was
61-7-14, while winning 2 Central League Championships, a District One title,
and a PIAA State crown. For the 3 years Chris recorded 24 goals & 22
assists, and in his senior year he was a co-captain, MVP of the team, and was
chosen to the 1st team All-Central League, the All-State team, and
was named a high school All-America pick. He still holds the LM school records
for most games played in a career, 81, and most playoff games played in a
career, 24. And amazingly,this was in 3 years, as freshman weren’t allowed to
play varsity at that time.
Upon graduation Chris attended Mercer College, where as a freshman, in
addition to many other accolades, he was chosen 1st team
All-American. After leaving Mercer he played for St. Mirrin F.C. in the Scottish
1st division for 2 years, and then for Aberdeen F.C. in the Scottish
Premier League until he was injured and had to return to the states.
After his playing career was over Chris was an assistant coach at
Cabrini College for a year, assistant varsity coach at LM for 4 years, head
coach for another 5 years, and then coached the Harriton girl’s soccer team for
5 years.
Chris is now a teaching assistant at Lower Merion High School and lives
in Belmont Hills with his wife Rosemarie and his two little girls Sophia and
Abby. He has still stayed active
in the community soccer program as an assistant coach of the U-13 Lower Merion
Magic.
------------------------------------------------------------------
David Urban:
David Urban was a 3-year varsity letter winner for Lower Merion’s
soccer team in 1983, 1984, & 1985. He started every game in his junior
& senior years at sweeperback, with the team going 34-6-7, and winning 2
Central League titles. LM went to both the District One & PA state playoffs
both those years, losing in the state final 1-0 in his junior year, with David
voted LM’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. He was also instrumental in many
wins as he was the team’s designated penalty kicker. In his senior year he was
the team’s captain, MVP, and was chosen to the 1st team All-Central
League team.
Upon graduation David went on to play at Eastern University (formerly
Eastern College), where he was a 2-time captain, a 2-time MVP, and a 1st
team NCCAA All American.
After college David was able to come back to Lower Merion High School
and coach in the boy’s soccer program, spending 1 year as the Freshmen Coach, 4
years as the Assistant Varsity Coach, and 1 year as the Head Varsity Coach. He
then went back to Eastern to become the head Women’s Soccer Coach and Assistant
Men’s Soccer Coach for over 5 years.
David continued to stay active in coaching, helping out with the Marple
& Liverpool club teams. He presently serves as Vice President for
Enrollment at Eastern University, and lives in Newtown Square with his wife
Carolyn and three children, Madison, Annika, and JD.
Sixth Inductee Class, September,
2011
Walter “Bud” Lownes:
Bud played offense (called inside right in those days) for the Aces in
1941, ’42, & ’43. In his sophomore year he played for coach Harold
Helveston, LM’s very first boy’s soccer coach. Coach Robert Hill took over as
head coach in 1942, when Coach Helveston retired, and with Bud as his high
scorer, the Aces won league titles in both 1942 & 1943. Coach Hill went on
to become the winningest coach in LM boy’s soccer history with 231 wins, and to
this day those players on his 1st team in 1942 affectionately like
to say that they taught Coach Hill how to win.
Bud still shares the LM’s boy’s soccer school record for most goals
scored in a single game (still standing after 68 years), when he tallied 6
goals in one game during his senior season.
After graduating from LM, and a 2-year stint in the military police
stationed in Germany, Bud went on to play soccer at the University of
Pennsylvania. While setting scoring records in soccer, he became an
“All-American” in both soccer and baseball. After a tryout in 1950, Bud was
offered a professional baseball contract with the Phillies, but declined
because of “an insufficient salary offer”.
After graduating from Penn Bud played in local soccer leagues, both in
Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., for many years. He also became a certified
soccer referee in 1956. He then turned to coaching and got involved in coaching
girl’s soccer teams in 1974. Bud passed away in 1991.
Bud passed along a love for soccer to his entire family. His wife,
Nancy, his nieces & nephews, daughter Debbie and his son Craig, as well as Craig’s and Debbie’s daughters (Bud’s
granddaughters). In fact, on his
very first date with his wife, Bud took her to a soccer game. After making sure
she was comfortable in the stands, he picked up his bag, changed, and played in
the game.
A statement from Bud’s son Craig says it all. “My father gave me a love
for the game of soccer, and I have passed this love along to my girls who have
exploded as soccer players and leaders. They both enjoy stories about their
grandfather and his soccer skills, and are striving to keep a family tradition
alive and growing.”
Seventh
Inductee Class,
September, 2012
The 1987 State Champion
Boy’s Soccer Team:
As of the end of last season, the 1987 LM Boy’s Soccer Team was the 1st,
and only, LM boy’s soccer team to win the PIAA State Soccer Championship.
The ’87 Aces finished the season with an overall record of 22-1-5, a
school record for both total wins in a single season and best overall record in
a single season, both of which still stand today. They also recorded 14
shutouts, which at that time was also a school record but has since been
broken.
In a must win situation in the last Central League game of the season
they defeated defending League, District, & State Champion Strath Haven 1-0
to earn a share of the Central League Title with Strath Haven. This represented
LM’s 4th consecutive Central League Title. They then lost to Central
Bucks East on penalty kicks in the District One semi-final before moving
through to the PIAA State Tournament as District One’s 3rd seed.
In the State Tournament semi-finals they met arch-rival Strath Haven
once again, and after 110 minutes of soccer ended in a 1-1 tie, they beat the
Panthers on sudden-victory penalty kicks. In the State Final against Pittsburgh
powerhouse Fox Chapel the ’87 Aces needed overtime again, after another 1-1
tie. With only minutes remaining in the 1st overtime period
Tri-Captain Drew Misher connected on a penalty kick to give LM their 1st
PIAA State Boy’s Soccer Championship.
Besides placing an unprecedented 8 players on the All-Main Line team,
the ’87 Aces also put 7 players on the All-Central League team, 2 on the
All-District One team, and 1 on the Regional All-America team.
Many of these
players went on to have stellar college soccer careers, and quite a few are
still active, playing club soccer and coaching at various levels.
Eighth Inductee Class, September,
2013
The 1968 PIAA Inter-District
Champion Boy’s Soccer Team:
The 1968 LM Boy’s Soccer Team has been the only team in the history of
the LM Soccer program that has won their League Title (Central League), the
District 1 Title, and the Inter-District Title (which, from 1954 thru 1972,
matched the winners of District 1 against the winners of District 3, the two
districts with the most success in the state at that time. This was considered
the “unofficial” State Championship during those 18 years).
They won the Central League title with an undefeated record of 7–0 –1 in only the 2nd year
of the League’s existence (the tie coming against Marple in a 1-1 contest in
their 1st Central League game). They beat Neshaminy 5-1 in the District
final, defeated ELCO on corner kicks in a hard fought Inter-District game
(after regulation play ended 2-2), and finished their season with a 14-1-1
record (the only blemish being a 2-0 loss to Episcopal in a non-league game).
Even though they had 4 players named to the All-Central League team they had
plenty of depth and talent throughout their line-up.
To anonymously quote several of the 1968 team members and also several
of the newspaper articles written at the end of the season:
·
“By the end of that championship season, the
starting lineup was a lineup of stars everywhere you looked. To me, every
one of the team starters could have played for every team in the Central League
that year.”
·
“We all contributed, whether in minutes in games or
playing hard against each other over the months in practices.”
·
”We had the kind of depth for which an LM
"B" Team would have been competitive with most of the rest of the
league.”
·
“This talent and depth was a blessing for team
success”
·
“Lower Merion soccer has always been good. In the 44 year history of the sport at
Lower Merion and the 38th soccer season in a row, the booters have
never finished below second place in their league, a record unmatched in any
other (LM) sport.”
·
The Aces had many individual stars that played
important roles in the team’s success.
But the factor that made Lower Merion’s soccer team stand above the rest
was the ability of eleven, any eleven, individual players to blend into a
cohesive working team.”
Ninth
Inductee Class,
September, 2014
James Billington: – class of 1946
James Billington played 3 years of varsity soccer for Lower Merion as
their starting goalkeeper. During those years the Aces won their league
championship all 3 seasons. Their record during that span was 38-6-5, with a
3-year goals against average of .87 per game.
In his junior year, with James in the goal for every minute of every
game, his Aces’ team allowed only 5 goals, which was a record that stood for 70
years until last year’s 2014 Aces team broke it. Also in his junior year James
was chosen as a co-captain of the All-Philadelphia team which defeated the
All-New York team. He was elected captain of his LM team in his senior year,
where his squad went undefeated in league play. There were no All-League teams
or playoffs back in that era.
Immediately upon graduation James was invited to play with the
German-Hungarian team in a league in Philadelphia, which he did until entering
Princeton University the following fall. He then played 3 years of varsity
soccer at Princeton, where, in his his senior year with James in goal, shutout
every team they played except a 1-0 loss to Harvard in double overtime and
another 1-0 loss to Yale. After winning a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford he also
played some soccer there.
James currently holds the position of Librarian of Congress.
Tenth
Inductee Class,
September, 2015
Jim Koch: (left) – class of 1979
Jim played soccer for Lower Merion in the fall seasons of 1976, ’77,
& ’78. He was a starting varsity midfielder at Lower Merion as a junior,
and won The Most Improved Player Award as voted by his peers. That was
validated next year when he was elected co-captain as a senior, and became the
team’s on & off the field leader. Playing out of the center midfield
position he ended up as the team’s high scorer and was chosen to the All-Central
League team. He was also voted the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, and
in addition, received the Doug Brown Memorial Award at graduation, which
exemplified his devotion to the sport and his positive approach to life.
After graduating from Lower Merion Jim attended and played Division I
soccer for the University of Delaware, where he earned a bachelors degree in
psychology. When he graduated he continued playing soccer & promoting the
game wherever his job took him. While still local he played in the Open
Division of the Lower Merion Summer League, then in leagues in St. Louis (where
he earned a doctorate from St. Louis University), New York (where he did a
postdoc at Mt. Sinai Med Center), and, at the present time, Wisconsin, where
he’s a member of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Psychology Dept.
During a year sabbatical in France in 2012-2013 Jim practiced with a
top-tier club team in Montrouge, which he says “was an education on how to move
the ball as well as surviving tough play, and made me a better player even this
late in my career”. Now, In his mid-50’s, Jim still plays soccer in an over-35
men’s indoor league in Wisconsin, more than holding his own against players
almost 20 years younger.
During his long soccer career Jim suffered some unfortunate injuries –
2 ACL reconstructions and 3 cartilage surgeries, and yet each time he
persevered and was back on the field as soon as possible.
Jim is married to his lovely wife Dana and has two sons, James (25)
& Alex (22) both of whom are in graduate programs abroad, James in Athens,
Greece and Alex in Durham, England. When they were younger Jim was a coach with
the local youth soccer league in Wisconsin where they both played.
Eleventh
Inductee Class,
November, 2016
Drew Kotler: – class of 2007
Drew Kotler was a 4-year starting goalkeeper for Lower Merion’s soccer
team in the Fall seasons of 2003, 2004, 2005, & 2006, the only LM Freshman
to do so in the school’s history thus far. In 2004, his sophomore year, he led
the team to a Central League Title, and currently owns the Lower Merion High
School record for the most career shutouts by a keeper with 34. He was also
elected to the All-Central League 1st team in his Sophomore, Junior,
& Senior seasons. In both his Junior & Senior years he was an
All-Southeastern PA pick, an All-State selection, and an NSCAA Regional
All-America choice. As a captain in his Senior year he was chosen the team’s
Most Valuable player. During the off-season Drew was also frequently called
upon by both high school & college coaches to work local soccer
goal-keeping camps.
After being heavily recruited, Drew continued his soccer career at
Big-10 member Northwestern University upon graduating from Lower Merion. He
red-shirted as a freshman during the 2007 Fall season, and in 2008 helped his
team reach the elite eight in the NCAA tournament, despite a nagging injury
that kept him on the bench part of the season. The injury continued into the
2009 season but was completely healed in time for his senior year in 2010.
Drew put up record numbers that season with a .9 goals against average, 2nd in
the Big Ten (behind a keeper that now plays professionally). Drew was also
Academic All-Big Ten in 2008, 2009, & 2010. During his college career he
also worked off-season as a personal soccer trainer.
After Northwestern Drew went on to medical school at Jefferson where he
graduated in 2015. He is currently in his 1st year of residency doing internal
medicine. He plans on sub-specializing by doing a hematology & oncology
fellowship. Drew also found time to play soccer in the CASA league in
Philadelphia.
Drew got married this past March, 2016 to his wonderful wife Elana and they are currently living in
the Philadelphia area.
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