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Sports Person of the Week Adam Dear: A Scholar and An Athlete for Guilford Indians

Balancing studies and sports is no easy task, but Adam Dear seems to have it figured out. An All-SCC honoree in both football (place kicker) and lacrosse (goaltender), Adam was recognized as an SCC Scholar-Athlete last November. He ranks in the top 20 percent of his senior class at Guilford High School (with a 3.5 GPA) and is a member of the National Honor Society in addition to serving as a captain of the football team last fall. "He will be hard to replace," Guilford football coach Tom Unger says of Adam, a senior. "Adam was an excellent leader, setting a great example in the classroom and on the field. He has always been a dedicated student athlete-even when he wasn't on the field he would vocally support his teammates. He is pursuing some schools that would give him an opportunity to possibly kick and play lacrosse."

"He will be hard to replace," Guilford football coach Tom Unger says of Adam, a senior. "Adam was an excellent leader, setting a great example in the classroom and on the field. He has always been a dedicated student athlete-even when he wasn't on the field he would vocally support his teammates. He is pursuing some schools that would give him an opportunity to possibly kick and play lacrosse."There was a time when soccer, not football, was Adam's fall sport.

There was a time when soccer, not football, was Adam's fall sport."I was first a product of the Guilford youth soccer program, but in 8th grade some family friends-the Larkins family, which was big into football-suggested I go out for football," Adam says of his gridiron beginnings. "At first, I was a backup quarterback in youth football. In my freshman year, I was a quarterback, kicker, and outside linebacker on the freshman team and, as a sophomore, I kicked for varsity. As a junior, I was a back-up quarterback and kicker and this year, I was the backup QB, kicker, and I did a little bit of outside linebacker."

"I was first a product of the Guilford youth soccer program, but in 8th grade some family friends-the Larkins family, which was big into football-suggested I go out for football," Adam says of his gridiron beginnings. "At first, I was a backup quarterback in youth football. In my freshman year, I was a quarterback, kicker, and outside linebacker on the freshman team and, as a sophomore, I kicked for varsity. As a junior, I was a back-up quarterback and kicker and this year, I was the backup QB, kicker, and I did a little bit of outside linebacker."The experience helped Adam effectively back up as quarterback in his senior year for the Indians last fall, putting him in the position of orchestrating touchdowns and then kicked the extra point.

The experience helped Adam effectively back up as quarterback in his senior year for the Indians last fall, putting him in the position of orchestrating touchdowns and then kicked the extra point. But as much as he loves football, Adam says his No. 1 sport is lacrosse, where being a netminder has always been his forte.

But as much as he loves football, Adam says his No. 1 sport is lacrosse, where being a netminder has always been his forte. "I started lacrosse in 3rd grade," Adam says. "My dad was a big lacrosse guy in Greenwich and was part of getting lacrosse started in Guilford. Lacrosse runs in our family. Once I got out of bantams, I've played goalie ever since. The position suits my athletic skills."

"I started lacrosse in 3rd grade," Adam says. "My dad was a big lacrosse guy in Greenwich and was part of getting lacrosse started in Guilford. Lacrosse runs in our family. Once I got out of bantams, I've played goalie ever since. The position suits my athletic skills."Adam doesn't profess any general preference for offense or defense even though he score points in football and stops them in lacrosse. But he does know one thing: "Stopping shots definitely gives me more satisfaction."

Adam doesn't profess any general preference for offense or defense even though he score points in football and stops them in lacrosse. But he does know one thing: "Stopping shots definitely gives me more satisfaction."Adam doesn't play a winter sport, but his off-season time is put to good use preparing for the next season.

Adam doesn't play a winter sport, but his off-season time is put to good use preparing for the next season."There's no time off, even in winter," says Adam, who plays tennis and sails in the summer. "Right now, I'm in the weight room getting ready for the lacrosse season."

"There's no time off, even in winter," says Adam, who plays tennis and sails in the summer. "Right now, I'm in the weight room getting ready for the lacrosse season." Adam credits his parents for keeping him on track as he divides his time between academics and athletics.

Adam credits his parents for keeping him on track as he divides his time between academics and athletics."My parents are a big influence," he says. "They make sure when I get home from practice that I get my studies done and that I'm not wasting my time."

"My parents are a big influence," he says. "They make sure when I get home from practice that I get my studies done and that I'm not wasting my time." His discipline in high school will undoubtedly help Adam succeed at the collegiate level next year.

His discipline in high school will undoubtedly help Adam succeed at the collegiate level next year."I might play football, but I may also play lacrosse at Union College-I've had some conversations with a coach-but I might also try out for club lacrosse for the college I decide to go to," Adam explains. "If I go to Union or Trinity College, I'll try out for the varsity lacrosse teams because I would be able to enjoy college life because they are both division III schools."

"I might play football, but I may also play lacrosse at Union College-I've had some conversations with a coach-but I might also try out for club lacrosse for the college I decide to go to," Adam explains. "If I go to Union or Trinity College, I'll try out for the varsity lacrosse teams because I would be able to enjoy college life because they are both division III schools." Adam's most memorable sports moments have a theme, one that he surely hopes to continue this lacrosse season: "In football, it was beating [Daniel] Hand my freshman year," and, without missing a beat, Adam adds: "In lacrosse, it was when we beat Hand last season."

Adam's most memorable sports moments have a theme, one that he surely hopes to continue this lacrosse season: "In football, it was beating [Daniel] Hand my freshman year," and, without missing a beat, Adam adds: "In lacrosse, it was when we beat Hand last season."