Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

All-Pasco boys soccer Coach of the year

By STEVE LEE
Published April 2, 2006

DADE CITY - Ever since he took over the boys team at Pasco, switching from that school's girls team after a three-year stint, coach Barry Grayling has told anyone within earshot to keep an eye on his team.

"Up and coming," and "dangerous" are how Grayling described a team that in his two previous seasons won district titles and advanced to region semifinals despite a 5-17-1 record in his first season with the Pasco boys. But that 2003-04 team did win three games in the postseason after winning just twice in the regular season.

Grayling's words rang true this season as the Pirates (24-2-1) reeled off a school-record 24 wins and qualified for state for the first time. The coach lauded his players for their desire and clutch performances in big games.

"They were hungry and I think they wanted to do something," Grayling said. "If you don't play together, it doesn't work."

No team in the county played as well together as Pasco's formidable scoring trio. Jose Montelongo, Roberto Cervantes and Garibaldi Alejandre combined for 90 of the team's 108 goals.

Montelongo, a sophomore striker named the Sunshine Athletic Conference and Times all-Pasco County Player of the Year, led the way with school records for goals (44) and points (110).

A key to the Pirates' success and impressive playoff run resulted in Grayling's penchant to pick apart defenses. Grayling directed his offense based on exposing opponents' weaknesses, instructing his players to play long ball or a short-passing game depending on what the defense gave.

"I just told them to go out and play our game," Grayling said. "Move the ball around - long and short - and just move it in until we score."

That ability to adapt and favoring an attacking offense are why Grayling has built a winner with the boys team. It also enabled him to coach the Pasco girls to a 14-10 mark in 2002-03 that included a then school-best region quarterfinal appearance.

[Last modified April 2, 2006, 01:50:18]