- April 24, 2024
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The Sandcrabs were honored by local leaders from the City of Ormond Beach. Courtesy photo
Ormond Beach City Commissioner Troy Kent (middle) graduated from Seabreeze High School 24 years ago — the same year the school won a state championship in boys soccer. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach Mayor proclaimed Wednesday, March 8, as a day to honor the soccer team.
First-year head coach Nathan Murphy continues to include his assistant coaches in all of his success. Photo by Brian McMiillan
The Sandcrabs, looking at past Sandcrabs' state title rings, will again be honored, when they get their own state championship rings. File photo
It’s been nearly a month since the Seabreeze Sandcrabs hoisted the 3A state championship trophy for the first time in 24 years, but the praises continue to pour in from the city and afar.
First-year head coach Nathan Murphy was recently named the 2017 Florida Dairy Farmers Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year — the first ever in Volusia County — by a voting panel which consisted of high school soccer coaches and media personnel.
“It’s such an amazing honor and even better that we were able to bring it to this county for the first time ever,” Murphy said. “It's also great to see that the hard work Jon (Kinsler), Rob (Bowling), and I put in is being recognized.”
Murphy refuses to accept the coaching credit alone. When he was named Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association during the season, he split the credit, then, with his assistant coaches. Upon hearing that he was announced the Dairy Farmer’s COY, Murphy tagged Bowling and Kinsler on his social media account and said, “Congratulations. We did it!
Murphy — and his staff — led the Sandcrabs to a 23-1-2 record, which included victories over the state’s best and a 2-0 win over Merritt Island for the championship last month.
Local stars
The Sandcrabs’s championship run landed them as the center of attention at an Ormond Beach City Commission Meeting on Tuesday, March 7. Mayor Bill Partington officially proclaimed Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as a day to honor the Seabreeze boys soccer team.
“The City Hall honor was amazing,” Murphy said. I'm so glad our boys were able to be recognized at the local level, outside the specs of the game. It just shows how special this team really is.”
