Beutler, Fremd safe, sound and thriving
Brad Beutler, whose even-par 35 led Fremd to Mid-Suburban League wins over Prospect and Schaumburg on Wednesday at Schaumburg Golf Club, has played in only a handful of MSL matches this year.
The senior, however, is happy to be playing at all after a serious car accident on the way to tryouts prior to the season left himself and two teammates injured.
"It was a pretty bad crash," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner. "I've spent a lot of time with these guys the past three or four years and when I heard about it, it broke my heart. At that point golf didn't mean so much - you just wanted to be sure that they'd be able to recover and be healthy in the long run."
Thankfully Beutler, Jackson Tworek and Jimmy Kowalczyk are OK now, and although Beutler missed about a month of competition due to a neck injury, he says he's 100 percent thanks to rest and chiropractic efforts.
"It was pretty scary," said the senior, who was rushed to the hospital for treatment. "Right afterward I thought I was OK, then after a few minutes I called home and said, 'Mom, I can't move my neck."
"It was bad, but I've tried to turn a negative into a positive. Instead of saying 'why me?' I've tried to use it to my advantage and become even stronger."
Brian Bodolay carded a 38 for the Vikings (10-1 in the MSL, just behind undefeated Barrington) as did Brad Peterson to help edge Prospect 150-151, with Schaumburg third at 168.
The Knights were bested despite stellar scores from Ryan Kowalski (35) and Cael Kiess (36).
"We were underachieving at the beginning of the year," said Kiess of the defending MSL champs, who improved to 6-3 in Mid-Suburban play with two matches left. "Right now, though, I think we're hitting our stride.
"First we want to defend our (MSL) title, then get out of regionals and sectionals and head downstate, and I definitely think we have the team to do it."
Schaumburg 's Matt Kozlowski was one of a quartet of Saxons golfers who fired a 42. The junior has battled his own injury problems, playing most of the season with a broken finger that he hurt prior to the season, then reinjured later.
"The doctors actually told me not to play this year," said Kozlowski, "but I thought I'd give it a go. I've had some big blowup holes, but lately I've been playing pretty well."
"I'm focused on this season, but I'm also looking forward to next year and hopefully shooting some lower scores."
Derek Leeney and Jeff Blethen both had 40 for Prospect, while Zach Isoda carded 39 for the Vikings and Fremd's Tworek fired a 40.
"Golf is unique," said Teschner, reflecting on the moment during tryouts when he heard three of his players were hurt. "More than any other sport, during practices and matches, you're able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with the kids and develop a relationship with them.
"You really start to know them as athletes and as people, and I really feel for them - I have two kids of my own but I feel like they're kind of my kids as well."