By Nolan Navarrete ‘24
As the Brother Rice soccer team continues to roll past the competition, the leader has been rewarded for this remarkable season. Coach Matt Prunckle earned the Tony Lawless Coach of the Year award concluding the regular season.
The Tony Lawless Coach of the Year award exemplifies the most valuable manager in the Catholic League. Prunckle’s selfless characteristics really improve his relationships with each and every player associated with the program.
Senior Bruce Harris said, “Coach Prunckle shows his care for his players by making us into professional and disciplined men through the soccer program.”
The grind these men have put in all summer has created an unbreakable bond with Coach Prunkle. The countless days of hot summer practices to long cold fall nights shows the commitment to the lessons Prunckle teaches every day.
Senior Cristian Morales said, “Coach always tells us we are his second family. It is a great feeling knowing that Coach always keeps his main focus on us.”
Characteristics of Prunckle obviously have played a great role in earning this award. If a great team has a great coach, the players are bound to succeed. The Crusaders have exceeded all expectations winning the Catholic League championship, several players earning all-conference, and a regional championship.
Prunckle said, “A coaching award is not an individual award, but a team award. We have preached to these guys from the beginning that any individual accolades will be a result of our collective success. I am a big believer that nothing great is achieved alone, and this awesome recognition is a result of 24 guys buying into what we have been trying to build.”
Good luck to the Crusaders as they take on George Washington High School on Oct 24, and congratulations to Coach Matt Prunckle.
