#19 is actually the son of two of my classmates. I'm old.
Last week I asked you to take a look at the following achievements and records and to tell me the team, the coach, and the connection both have to Avoiding the Drop:
National Achievements/Records
#1 133 consecutive matches without a loss (1990-1997)- second place is only 103 matches.
#1 10 consecutive state titles (1987-1996).
#1 1 goal conceded (1999) (17 shutouts in 18 matches)
#2 2 goals conceded (2001)
#2 121 consecutive matches without being shut out.
#6 13 state titles (9 time runners-up as well) though the team has only existed since 1974.
#9 46 consecutive victories (1992-1995).
The current coach of this team (he’s been there since 1977) ranks as follows nationally:
#1 All-time winning percentage, 92.4%
#7 Total wins for active coaches (525-43-24)
#11 Total wins all-time (525-43-24)
The answers are after the jump…
With numbers this distinct and the internet at your fingertips it probably wasn’t hard to figure out that the team are the Golden Eagles of Gilford High School in Gilford, NH (pop. 6,800).
The coach in question- who is also a multiple “National Coach of the Year” winner and member of seven different coaching halls of fame- is this guy-
David Pinkham
You’ll notice that if you combine some of the numbers above, Coach Pinkham has guided his teams to 22 state finals in 33 years, winning 13 of them. Not bad.
The connection to Avoiding the Drop is a simple one- Gilford is where Fuse grew up, where he went to high school, and where he was lucky enough to play soccer for Coach Pinkham.
This week’s winners were Andrew B. and Ben D, so congratulations to them!
Before I close, here are two other tidbits: 1) There is actually somebody famous from Gilford, this guy! Chris was two years ahead of me in school, his mom was (may still be?) the school nurse at the high school, and he was a very good high school basketball player. 2) The 2010 version of the Golden Eagles soccer team is off to a 6-0 start and they have thus far outscored there opponents 26-1 40-1.
Okay, I’m done braggin’. I’m back tomorrow with a new challenge!
