TOWER CITY - Williams Valley's historic boys' soccer season of titles and awards just keeps on rolling, even after the Vikings played their final game.
This time, and deservedly so, it's an individual honor for the man who oversees it all.
Williams Valley head coach Seth Shuey has been named the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Class A Boys' Coach of the Year. He's just the second Schuylkill League coach to earn the honor, after Halifax's Jeff Kerstetter won the award in 2010.
The honor comes on the heels of a 22-1 season that included the program's first Division II, Schuylkill League and District 11 Class A titles. Williams Valley's lone loss came in the first round of its first-ever appearance in the PIAA Tournament, 6-1 to eventual state champion Mountain View.
"This is the most shocking one yet," Shuey said of the award. "I was floored when I got the phone call. It's an incredible honor and I'm humbled by it."
Shuey was eligible for the award after being nominated as the Schuylkill League representative by fellow coaches. After that, the decision is up to the PSCA committee. The PSCA's decision on the honor was swift and definitive, coming a week before the state title game was even played.
"That's the first thing I asked (PSCA Chairperson Scott Bonagura)," Shuey said. " 'You know the title game still has to be played, right?' I was kinda speechless. I definitely wasn't expecting this one."
The explanation given to Shuey was that regardless of the state final results, the accomplishments of the Vikings' 2012 season earned him the honor.
"This reflects the kids and their hard work," Shuey said. "My assistants, so many people are a part of this - it's not just me."
Shuey then reflected on the past and the long road it took to get to this point.
"I immediately think of my mentor (North Schuylkill head coach) Bob Oravitz," Shuey said. "He's the reason I'm here today as a coach. I learned under him and he gave me my start. This is a special moment we'll be able to share."
Shuey will be honored at the All-State banquet Jan. 26 in Harrisburg, where he will be presented with the award. While Shuey isn't the first Schuylkill League coach to win it, he is the first from District 11.
"If this is a by-product of our season, fine," Shuey said. "What I'm proud of is the way the kids worked this year and turned around a program has been really bad in the past. It's been a great year for this program, and of that, I'm really proud."
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