There were times this fall when I got chills. When I covered the Section Three match at Meadia Heights, that\u2019s when d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu really set in.<\/p>\n
Meadia was L-S\u2019s home track, but it\u2019s also where I worked in the bag room for six years. I reconnected with my former boss and head golf professional, Scott Sklar, and caught up with my former teammate, Patrick Holmes, who currently commands the Pioneers assembly.<\/p>\n
Later in the season, I saw another former boss, Pete Kowalinski, as I followed his sons, Conestoga Valley\u2019s Andrew and Thomas Kowalinski. Now-retired coach Greg Minnich captained Solanco when I was at L-S, and his former athlete, Conner Sheehan, who I played against, now oversees Manheim Central.<\/p>\n
Again, how many reporters have that attachment?<\/p>\n
The other neat spin to this season\u2019s golf coverage was following the events that I didn\u2019t meet the standard for in high school. I was a two-time league championships qualifier and missed the District Three tournament cut line by a few strokes both my junior and senior years.<\/p>\n
I had covered districts and states in my four years working in Carlisle, but a focus on L-L golfers this season was a first. I had a front-row seat to the endings of historic careers for Cedar Crest\u2019s Dylan Ramsey and Warwick\u2019s Piper Smith. I chronicled the rises of Cedar Crest freshman Bryn Brandt and Annville-Cleona freshman Ben Allwein.<\/p>\n
L-L golf gave me so much this year just as it had when I was a scholastic athlete. But now, I\u2019ve experienced it through both lenses \u2014 something I\u2019m eternally grateful for and will continue to cherish.<\/p>\n
In many instances, I attempted to reflect on my interview with Kevin. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever remember everything I said, but I\u2019ll always have a reminder anytime I step on an L-L course.<\/p>\n
I was filled with appreciation when Kevin took the time to speak with me. I still am\u00a0\u2014 now the one holding the recorder and asking the questions.<\/p>\n
Seventeen-year-old me is still hanging around. I may not have known what words to say then, but I\u2019m sure going to try my hardest to use the right ones now.<\/p>\n