GAINESVILLE (March 18) — The six individual class finalists for the 2020 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Soccer and Boys’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school boys’ soccer coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player-of-the-Year or Coach-of-the-Year in that class. The 2020 Mr. Soccer and Boys’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
The six finalists for the 2020 Mr. Soccer Award:
Area players/coaches in bold
Joao Negrao, Senior, Midfield, Boca Raton, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 28-0 record and the Class 7A state title by scoring 19 goals and adding 25 assists.
Brian Schaefer, Senior, Midfield/Forward, Fletcher (Neptune Beach), Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 14-4 record by scoring 19 goals and adding 26 assists. Has signed to play college soccer at the University of South Florida.
Carson Bien, Senior, Forward, Tampa Jesuit, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 24-3-2 record and the Class 5A state title by scoring 28 goals, including 11 game-winning goals, and adding 10 assists.
Leonardo Perez, Senior, Forward, Cape Coral Mariner, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 25-5-1 record and a state runnerup finish by scoring 69 goals and adding 30 assists. Perez will continue his soccer career at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Joel Castellanos, Senior, Forward, NSU University School, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 21-0-2 record and the Class 3A state title by scoring 29 goals and adding 12 assists.
Patrick Horan, Senior, Forward, Canterbury, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 17-3 record by scoring a state-leading 72 goals and adding 22 assists. Has committed to play college soccer at Rollins College.
The six finalists for the 2020 Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year Award:
Marcello Castillo, Boca Raton, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Castillo posted a 28-0 record and led his team to the Class 7A state championship. Has posted a 332-46-22 record in 15 years with three state titles (2010-16-20) and two state runnerup finishes (2009 and 2014).
Wes Nelson, Niceville, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Nelson led his squad to a 25-0-2 record and the school’s first state championship. He has a career record of 389-81-41 in 20 years of coaching.
Eric Sims, Tampa Jesuit, Class 5A Coach of the Year
In his 19th year as a head coach, Sims posted a 24-3-2 record and won his first state championship. He has an overall career record of 355-80-33 (154-28-9 at Jesuit and 201-62-24 at Gaither) with six Final Four appearances.
Chris Bart-Williams, Gulliver Prep, Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his second year at Gulliver Prep, Bart-Williams led his squad to a 15-7-4 record and the Class 4A state title, after posting a 5-10-3 record in 2019.
Thiago Oliveira, NSU University School, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 21-0-2 record and the Class 3A state title. In five years at NSU he has posted a 112-21-17 record and in 2012 won a state title coaching American Heritage-Plantation.
Jason Montoya, Shorecrest Prep, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to an 18-3-2 record and the Class 2A state title. In three years he has posted a 59-9-4 record with a Final Four appearance in 2018 and a state runnerup finish in 2019.
Final voting numbers by class (top three):
Class 7A
Player School
Joao Negrao Boca Raton 69
Jose Escobar Ft. Pierce Central 40
Christian Lizyness Olympia 29
Coach School
Marcelo Castillo Boca Raton 94
Vito Bavaro Lakewood Ranch 40
Claude Davis Boone 27
Class 6A
Player School
Brian Schaefer Fletcher (Neptune Beach) 67
Spencer Mallion St. Thomas Aquinas 48
Liam Etan Niceville 32
Coach School
Wes Nelson Niceville 80
Pamela McDonald Doral Academy 54
Lionel Brown South Broward 38
Class 5A
Player School
Carson Bien Jesuit 72
Andrew Zalewa Stanton (Jacksonville) 41
Juan Parra Cape Coral 34
Coach School
Eric Sims Jesuit 105
Robbie Schank Lely 49
Nicholas Lue Young Pembroke Pines Charter 36
Class 4A
Player School
Leonardo Perez Mariner 92
Zach Auger Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 35
Christian Dohler North Broward Prep 27
Coach School
Chris Bart-Williams Gulliver Prep 84
Martin Cardenas Mariner 58
Matt Case Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) 22
Class 3A
Player School
Joel Castellanos NSU University School 52
Delwin Flores American Heritage 45
Dean Hogg Keystone Heights 42
Coach School
Thiago Oliveira NSU University School 87
Kevin McCarron Tampa Catholic 60
Jonathan Frias American Heritage 47
Class 2A
Player School
Patrick Horan Canterbury 54
Gabriel Anez Riviera Prep 44
Vander Alves Rocha Lake Mary Prep 42
Coach School
Jason Montoya Shorecrest Prep 84
Andy Warner Maclay 62
Staci Wilson The Pine School 35
