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10/06/2016 12:00 AMIn an ironic twist, Anes Gadun actually disliked the goalie position when he started playing soccer, but that all changed with one successful season in the 5th grade. The rest was history for Anes, who’s now displaying great prowess in the Morgan net.
Anes, a junior captain for the Huskies, moved here from Bosnia when he was just one year old and quickly took on soccer as his first sport. After gravitating toward the goal in 5th grade, Anes ultimately worked his way into the starting netminder’s role as a freshman at Morgan. Last season, Anes registered nine shutouts and earned Second Team All-Shoreline Conference honors. Now this year, he’s allowed just six goals through Morgan’s first seven games, while helping the team to a record of 4-2-1.
“I was put in goal in 5th grade and I saved a couple breakaways. From there, I just love the excitement of making a big save. It’s an adrenaline rush,” says Anes, who also plays basketball and runs track at Morgan. “I think I’ve become more confident as the years have gone on. Playing at this level, it’s a huge confidence boost. My 1-on-1 and ball distributing skills have grown and I think I have better technique now, as well. It was an honor to make All-Shoreline. It was nice that other coaches in our league voted for me and it helped me see that I had some actual talents.”
Leading a club as a captain prior to senior year can be a frightening situation for some athletes, but Anes knows that it’s all about being optimistic in every circumstance, while maintaining a certain degree of humility.
“I’ve been captain of teams when I was younger, but this is different with a lot of different age levels involved. I want to be the same person I was in the past and not let being captain get to my head,” Anes says. “I make sure to lead the team in a positive way and be a good representative of the team.”
Anes believes that displaying that same positivity, plus a nonstop drive to be the best, are crucial characteristics for one to be a solid stopper in net.
“The biggest thing with being a goalie is confidence. Confidence is key because you have to believe in yourself to make saves,” says Anes. “You also have to have that drive to want to make yourself better every day.”
Huskies’ Head Coach Ross Demay says that Anes not only demands the best out of himself, but that he’s also more durable than a brick wall.
“His work ethic and fearlessness makes him an effective keeper. An example of this is coming back a week and a ½ after he got five teeth knocked out last year,” says Demay. “In that, he is a good leader pushing the team through by example, as well as a positive attitude striving to reach our goals. He is harder on himself than anyone and feels that, if he can push, so can they.”
Even though the Huskies don’t have any seniors this season, Anes sees the upside as it’s a chance for young stars to shine in the varsity spotlight and, potentially, help the team go on a nice postseason ride.
“We have a lot of potential on this team and a lot of young potential, too. It’s really about honing in on that potential and having that heart and intensity,” says Anes, who thanks his father Almin and mother Vahiva, along with all of his coaches and teammates. “The talent comes out through that same intensity and then, hopefully, we can go far in Shorelines and states with it.”