Goodband Award
The Goodband Award was established in the fall of 2010, to be given in memory of long-time Belmont Hill Coach Cliff Goodband, who served his school and the Independent School League for 36 years. The Goodband Award seeks to honor, when merited, a member or an alumnus of the league who has either courageously faced adversity himself or who has helped others to overcome adversity, and thereby endeavors to emulate the virtues of both courage and service that Cliff Goodband exemplified throughout life.
To learn more about Cliff Goodband, click here.
Brendan Dawson, a member of this year’s St. Mark’s Boys’ Varsity Soccer team, has been named recipient of the 2011 Goodband Award by the Independent School League. Established in the fall of 2010, the Goodband Award is given given in memory of long-time Belmont Hill Coach Cliff Goodband, who served his school and the ISL for 36 years. The Goodband Award seeks to honor, when merited, a member or an alumnus of the ISL who has either courageously faced adversity himself or who has helped others to overcome adversity, and thereby endeavors to emulate the virtues of both courage and service that Cliff Goodband exemplified throughout life.
A III Former from Medway, MA, Brendan Dawson was diagnosed this past summer with thyroid cancer. Arriving at St. Mark’s, he participated in the soccer pre-season and played with the team for its first few games. Due to his treatment and medication, he had to take three weeks off at mid-season, but he returned later in October and started the majority of the team’s final games, including the exciting 1-1 tie with Groton on the final day of the season. “He’s one of the most courageous kids I’ve ever met,” says Boys’ Varsity Soccer coach Neil Cifuentes. “He goes about his business and gives 100% without a complaint.” Dawson himself is humbled by the recognition. “It’s an honor to receive this award,” he says simply. This winter, Brendan is playing Boys’ Varsity Hockey.
Goalkeeper Glen Martin was two matches into his sophomore season, and his first year at Brooks, when a top of the box challenge resulted in a horrific collision that left him in great distress with massive internal injuries. He was med-flighted to Children's Hospital in Boston where doctors performed two extended life-saving operations and numerous procedures during his seventy day hospital stay. He returned to school just before Christmas and worked tirelessly to make up his schoolwork and get back on track academically. During the following summer, while in summer school, he returned to the soccer pitch and slowly made his way back onto his Development Academy team and, in the fall, the Brooks soccer pitch. During his junior and senior seasons Glen was a star goalkeeper with one of the league's lowest goals-against averages. He performed with courage and dedication and remained an inspiration to his teammates throughout.