Ponte Vedra Sharks
Photo by Army National Guard
Come rain or shine, sink or swim, the MaxPreps Soccer
Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard was determined to
celebrate the
Ponte Vedra High School boys soccer team. On a rainy
evening, the Sharks' family and friends, from as far away as Texas, and
classmates gathered to honor the team for their outstanding
accomplishments this season.
With a record of 24–3–4, the Sharks
captured the Florida Class 3A state championship with a win over
defending champion American Heritage (Plantation) 2-0, the first in the
school's young five-year history. To highlight this achievement, the
Sharks also ended their season with a national ranking of No. 22
according to the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings. The Ponte Vedra Sharks
are among the very best in the country out of more than 13,000 boys
soccer teams.
As the rain continued, so did the celebration.
During the trophy presentation to Coach Daniel Villareal and the team,
Master Sergeant William Kessler of the Florida Army National Guard
compared the tenacity, determination, hard work and character of this
team to the qualities fostered by the Army National Guard, highlighting that the heart of this team was their greatest strength. All
season long, perseverance had been the motto of a championship team.
Coach
Villareal and the Sharks were extremely grateful for the honor. A
picture-perfect moment, with smiles for miles, the team raised the Army
National Guard national ranking trophy in gratitude before those in
attendance. As one parent stated, "We are thankful for MaxPreps and the
Army National Guard for recognizing our boys. They've worked extremely
hard this year."
Congratulations Ponte Vedra High Sharks!
