- May 5, 2024
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WHAT'S DIFFERENT AT MATANZAS?
Ever since the Pirates’ historic win over Flagler Palm Coast earlier this season, very few things have remained “as is” around Matanzas High School sports. For those who attend the school, there is a clearly altered atmosphere. But, how is it explained to those who don’t attend Matanzas?
“There are tangibles such as attendance at events that are up and massive student participation in spirit week activities and events,” said Rich Weber, the new athletics director. “It’s clearly a shift to an ‘all-in’ mentality.” Weber, along with new principal, Dr. Earl Johnson, are present at as many sports events as possible, since the school year begin.
A few weeks after the Pirates shocked the Bulldogs before a record crowd, the two schools’ bowling teams met at Palm Coast Lanes, in front of, again, a shockingly large crowd. FPC boy’s bowling coach credited Matanzas’ crowd support with giving the Pirates an edge that inspired their comeback that evening.
“The culture has changed in the regard to where these kids have something they can be proud of,” coach Robert Ripley said. “For me, the real job is now maintaining the momentum and building on the success of this season to give it something to be sustainable from year to year. I want to build tradition, to improve our facility and make our school and our programs something that everyone wants to be a part of.”
— JEFF DAWSEY
‘It’s a culture: the Pirate Nation’
Those are the words of Jacob Oliva, superintendent of Flagler Schools. The term, “Pirate Nation,” started with Robert Ripley, head football coach, who began working at Matanzas on March 17, 2014, before spring football began.
“That was the heart that spread through the campus, and the students are believing in it,” Oliva said.
Since Ripley started at Matanzas, other leadership positions have changed as well: Dr. Earl Johnson began this year as principal, and Keith Dodson is the new band director; Rich Weber is the new athletics director.
Jason Wheeler, Flagler Schools information specialist, has a son who attends Matanzas: David is a freshman sousaphone player in the band. Because of the enthusiasm associated with the new leaders and the concept of Pirate Nation, Jason Wheeler said, “You get school pride. That goes along way. We had good programs there before, but you get fresh eyeballs, and you tweak things here and there.”
However it has happened, Oliva said, the culture change is evident.
“It’s in all the sports,” he said. “It’s about everyone supporting winning programs. … There’s a lot of Pirate pride at Matanzas High School right now, in every program.”
— Brian McMillan
Matanzas will play the Bucs Friday, Oct. 16, at the Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium.
