Story by
Florida High community celebrates boys basketball team's state championship at home
- Story by
- Florida High community celebrates boys basketball team's state championship at home
Literally, it did rain on Florida High's parade Wednesday afternoon, but metaphorically, Florida High players, coaches, alumni, and fans were dry as can be.
The Florida High athletic department had a parade that rode around the edges of Southwood Golf Club planned, honoring the Florida High boys basketball team that won the 2022 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship last weekend. While rainy weather forced festivities inside it did not stop the Seminole faithful from celebrating.
Advertisement
Alongside the championship squad, classmates, parents, friends, and family filled up Bob Albertson Gym to honor the Seminoles, accompanied by a few members of the 1963 Florida High state champion team. Steve Moon was one of the members of that squad that was in attendance Wednesday and spoke at the assembly, congratulating the most recent champions.
More: Promises were kept, dreams came true, realizations were made in Florida High's state win
More: 'It builds people.' Florida High eyes second state title in boys basketball in 59 years
"We've been waiting for it, and we're really proud of them for doing that," Moon said. "We're really proud of the school. We've always been Florida High forever people so it's good to see them do it and accomplish things that are important to them, and are still important to us."
Advertisement
Moon said that he didn't know that the Seminoles were playing in the state championship game until he was interviewed for an article for the Democrat . However, he still expressed excitement for seeing his alma mater do it once again. Moon related to Florida High head coach Charlie Ward's message of this being a moment the team and others will remember forever.
Moon said he did give the current Florida High administration a little flack for not keeping the 1963 state championship banner up but still think about the moment of winning state constantly. It's one that he looks back on fondly and hopes that this year's champions will feel the same way.
"It really has been with me my whole life," Moon said. "No matter where I went or what I did, you always have the feeling that if you work hard and try hard, you can do it. It's worked for me. It's been an inspiration for me."
Advertisement
Moon also added that he's happy that the school named the gym after Bob Albertson, Moon's coach, and that Albertson would've loved to see this moment.
After Moon spoke, other alumni chimed in via video to congratulate the Seminoles. Members of the 1998 and 1999 state Final Four teams offered their messages to the 2022 squad. Senior guard Tre Donaldson said after the championship game that the win went beyond just the team, and Wednesday's celebrations showed that the victory represented generations of Seminoles.
Ward then had a Q&A panel with a Florida High staff member, while a coconut sat alongside him. The hardshell fruit was a part of a prank that the team had played on Ward earlier in the season and the coconut had just stuck with the team ever since.
Jokes aside, the distinguished Florida State Seminole, talked about these past few days of being able to enjoy the moment with this team and celebrate all the hard work. Ward has won the 1993 national championship and the Heisman Trophy with Florida State, but this is his first championship as a coach.
"It's defiantly a great moment when you talk about all the great things you put in for the season, and then to cap it off with a championship," Ward said. "I've been blessed to be a part of one of these before when I was at Florida State and they never get old. I'm grateful and to share it with the student body, administration, student body, and friends was special."
Advertisement
Hard work rewarded and remembered is the statement that Ward has echoed since winning in Lakeland. He's told his team that their names are going to be a part of Florida High history forever, as his have been with Florida State and even in the NBA as finalists.
"All I know is that your name with be on a trophy or in a gym for longevity," Ward said. "1963, we saw there was a poster of them and it'll be the same for us. I'm just thankful that we were able to cap all our hard work off with a championship. That's what we've worked for. To get that opportunity to make that happen is a great feeling."
The ladder end of the assembly had each player come up and say something short to the gym, a Q&A panel with Donaldson and junior guard Anthony Robinson II, and the cutting down on the net. From the final buzzer to getting a piece of the net, they are moments that Florida High players have cherished.
Advertisement
"It still feels great. There's no other feeling like it," Donaldson said. "We've been through a lot since my eighth grade year all the way up to my senior year and it did take me some time, but I feel like a state champ now."
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com, on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida High community celebrates boys basketball state championship
