CHOCOWINITY — Southside’s golf team came up a bit short of qualifying for the state championship at last week’s 1-A eastern regional. It marked the end of the road for the Seahawks, but they have plenty to be proud of this year.

All the success these past few months can be chalked up to not one player, but rather a deep team and consistent performances from each player.

“This season, I would say, has been a well-balanced effort from all of the players,” coach Doug Dixon said. “Looking over the season stats, all seven players that played in matches contributed in scoring at some point throughout the season.

“Leadership wise, Luke Matthews and Colt Dixon are probably two of the more, not necessarily the vocal leaders, but they keep their composure. I try to make sure they remind the guys to keep a good attitude.”

Oftentimes it was Matthews laying down the low score for Southside. Many others stepped up throughout the spring, though. Dixon, Chris Reiner and Dedan Wilkins all shot within two strokes of each other in a March 6 match that the Seahawks won.

Matthews led the team, but his fellow Seahawks were never too far behind him. The result was a relatively dominant regular-season showing. Southside held its own against 1-A Coastal Plains Conference foes — namely a strong Northside team that finished third in the region — en route to a conference championship.

“We only lost one conference match. The rest of our wins have been from a balanced effort,” Dixon said. He added that he only adjusted things once this season. That was the one match the Seahawks last.

“We reverted right back to the things that had been working. It has been great having coach (Alan) Matthews. Coaching wise, the two of us worked well together. We had some great players to work with.”

The relationship between the two coaches and their exceptional players proved to be a recipe for success. The season may have ended a bit earlier than Southside would have liked, but it was fruitful nonetheless.

Dixon had said he was optimistic going into the regional match. Southside knew what Northside was bringing to the table. The Seahawks stacked up well against Oxford Prep and Riverside, which placed first and second, respectively, in the east.

Adversity struck in the form of weather. The wind at Washington Yacht and Country Club created problems for everyone to overcome. In the end, Southside fell short by 26 strokes.