Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
Over the past few seasons,
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) High School's boys soccer team has built a reputation as a team that consistently makes a deep run into their state playoffs. However, the program was still searching to capture the elusive state title for the first time in school history. In their ninth trip to the state Final Four, fourth in the last five seasons, the Indians could finally call themselves state champions as they defeated Merritt Island 1-0 in the FHSAA Class 3A championship game. The victory not only completed an unbeaten season for the Indians (30-0-1), but it also marked a little revenge as they fell to Merritt Island 5-0 in last year's state title game. It was Choctawhatchee's senior leadership and strong team chemistry that enabled them to get the monkey off their back once and for all. Having the Class 3A Player of the Year, Shane Nicholson, who tallied 50 goals and 36 assists on the season, didn't hurt either.
On Tuesday, April 7th, MaxPreps and the Florida Army National Guard visited Choctawhatchee High School to honor the Indians on the 4th Annual MaxPreps Soccer Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard. Each year, MaxPreps chooses only 10 boys' soccer programs across the country out of more than 15,000 to honor on the Tour. After hearing that Choctawhatchee would be a part of this select and elite group of soccer teams, Head Coach Chris McDaniel could not have been happier for his group of guys. "This is great for the kids to get this recognition from MaxPreps and the National Guard. The honor is very exciting for the team and means a whole lot to them." Of the 15,000+ soccer programs nationwide, MaxPreps ranked the Indians No. 5 in the country, and No. 1 in the state of Florida.
Coach McDaniel and the team were set to receive the Army National Guard national ranking trophy during the school's afternoon assembly. Before all the students were dismissed from their classes, the entire team met up in the school's auditorium in preparation of the trophy presentation. There, Master Sergeant Trevor Milam and Staff Sergeant Dustin Murray of the Florida Army National Guard handed out Tour of Champions commemorative shirts and cinch bags to all of the players and coaches. After throwing the shirts on, they took formal photos with the Minuteman trophy and Tour of Champions national ranking banner. Coach McDaniel and a few of the team's top players were then asked several questions about their championship season and how it felt to be ranked so highly by MaxPreps.
As the assembly was approaching, the team made their way over to the gym. The band began to play as the stands started to fill with students, parents, and faculty. Choctawhatchee's principal, Cindy Gates, kicked off the assembly by welcoming everyone who had attended and talking briefly about the soccer team's highly successful season. Everyone in the gym rose to their feet and applauded after hearing that the Indians had been ranked among the very best soccer teams in the country. Next, SSG Murray congratulated the team on their accomplishment and spoke of character traits that contributed to their unbeaten season, such as personal dedication and team effort. He then presented Coach McDaniel and the team with the prestigious "Minuteman" trophy. After accepting the trophy, Coach McDaniel thanked MaxPreps and the Army National Guard for the special honor and spoke of how proud he was of all the hard work his players put in throughout the year. The coaches and players then proceeded to the school's library where more pictures were taken by family and friends and several interviews were organized with local TV stations.
Congratulations to Coach McDaniel and the Choctawhatchee Indians on a great season and national ranking!
