By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/22/08
Lower Merion senior Dylan Chou first learned to play lacrosse in the Ashbee Lacrosse youth program in Lower Merion Township as a fourth-grader.
That’s why serving as an assistant coach for seventh-graders at Ashbee 
Lacrosse now is a special way to give back.
“I’ve been doing it the last three years,” said the Aces’ senior co-captain. “Its fun to be on the other end and get to coach.
“I like to see kids having fun and helping them develop their skills. It’s a great way for me to combine service and one of my interests.”
Chou – the Laxzilla/Phillylacrosse.com Male Student-Athlete of the Week – has made a habit of serving the community, and not just in his hometown. This summer he will serve as a golf-mentor volunteer for Philadelphia Chapter of The First Tee, a national program benefiting inner-city youth.
Chou, a varsity golfer in the fall for Lower Merion, spends two or three days a week teaching golf skills, as well as personal values to youngsters at the FDR Park in Philadelphia.
“We stress things like perseverance and sportsmanship and honesty and apply them to golf and life,” Chou said. “It’s really important, especially for those kids.”
Chou has shown the example to follow. He has a 4.5 GPA in a five-point scale at Lower Merion while taking five AP course. He plans to take next year off to travel and then will probably attend Dickinson College and study either economics or business.
Right now, though, his biggest concern is a key game Friday. The Aces (17-4), ranked ninth by Phillylacrosse.com, travel to Central League rival Springfield-Delco in the first round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association playoffs.
Lower Merion (seeded ninth), lost to the Cougars (seeded eighth), 11-4, nine days ago when the teams met in the regular season. Either way, the season has been a success; last year the Aces struggled through an 11-9 campaign.
“From last year to this year everybody has improved themselves,” said Chou, who has 33 goals and 25 assists this season. “In turn, we improved the team. We learned to play more as a team.
“Prior to the Springfield game, we had won seven or eight straight. In that game, they just outworked us. We need to get on the groundballs and out hustle them, and we’ll be OK.”
