- April 26, 2024
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Head coach Robert Ripley and the Matanzas Pirates removed a lot of monkeys from their backs this season. While a first playoff appearance just barely eluded them, the Pirates can finally breathe, knowing they’re no longer a team other opponents will automatically put a “W” on the calendar for.
Monkeys removed
Matanzas’ first team to beat county rivals, Flagler Palm Coast and become county champions; first team to win a district game in nearly four years; first team to beat Nease; first team to win more than five games (up to eight); first team to win consecutive games; first team to be ranked in the AP Poll (10th and ninth); first team to be ranked in the Bright House Sports Network Poll; first team to be ranked in the Daytona Beach News-Journal Fab 5; first team to go undefeated at home; first team to win three district games in a year; first team to have a winning record; first team to be Pedro Menendez.
“If you would’ve told me, at the beginning of the year, we will be 8-2, I would’ve taken it and said, ‘Thanks. I’m going home,” Ripley said. “To win eight (games) and join a short list of teams in the county’s history is a huge accomplishment for us, and to be the best statistical team to ever play at Matanzas is also a great accomplishment. I think in a few weeks it will feel a lot better than it does right now. You gotta be proud of this team and everything they’ve been through, the three head coaches, losing seasons, unsure of who they might be and now getting a little bit of success.”
While Matanzas is losing key seniors, such as Daniel Dillard, Andre Bodison and Hunter Turner, to name a few, stout underclassmen are looking to step up and put the Pirates into the playoffs for the first time in the school’s history.
I feel like the future is great,” Ripley added. “I felt like we were a year away and that we would have some growing pains this year, but we would also have some success. Next year, we’re going to see how diverse we can be and be better coaches.”
