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It's far more difficult to build a dynasty in high school than it is in professional sports.
With a maximum of four years of any given player in any given sport, high school sports programs were never intended to find the lasting success fulfilled by star contract players in the pros.
And yet, in the last quarter-century, Palm Beach County has been home to two such programs that have seen prolific runs spanning decades.
Out of 43 Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners — between small schools and big schools across the last 25 years — 12 have come from American Heritage-Delray, and another 10 have come from Boca Raton High School.
The teams have combined for nine state championships, representing Palm Beach County across multiple classifications.
American Heritage-Delray had found success through multiple leaders during the last 25 years, winning titles under Alvin James (2006, 2009, 2011), Jonathan Frias (2018), and Victor Sanchez (2025).
“With those coaches we had, the secret to be honest with you was that they were very connected in the travel community and respected in their own right," American Heritage headmaster Bob Stone said. "They were able to take our directive, match it up to the raw talent they knew in the community, and that’s been the profile and formula for how the boys were able to do it.”
The Stallions' return to title supremacy in 2025 gave American Heritage the most championship wins of any program in Palm Beach County over the last quarter century.
Ironically, enough Benjamin was the first coaching job in Florida for Sanchez after he moved from Connecticut, and at the time, he wasn't sure he'd ever coach high school soccer again following his tenure with the Bucs.
Even at that time, though, the reputation of Heritage soccer was mighty.
"I was familiar with American Heritage as being a powerhouse, predominant, well-known, established soccer program," Sanchez said. "And in my mind, even though I was done coaching high school soccer, I told myself, 'If I did get back into coaching high school soccer, that would be one of the few schools I would consider."
The opportunity came, and he wasn't about to let it pass him by, helping the program to the most recent and perhaps most unexpected of state championships this year.
Sanchez's success brings Heritage back into the topic of state-wide dominance, but the program is no stranger to that particular conversation.
Seven years prior, Frias led a 2018 Stallions team to a no-doubt 5-0 win in the Class 2A state championship over Bolles.
Seven years before that, the Stallions were the team to beat for a number of years with the program capturing three state titles under James in a six-year span, a stretch that also included a state runner-up finish in two of the remaining three seasons (2007, 2010).
That history was well-known to Sanchez when he was handed to proverbial keys to the program, and in some ways there was a certain weight that reputation placed on expectations for success.
Luckily for Heritage — and perhaps for Sanchez as well — it wasn't anything different than the expectations the accomplished coach placed on himself.
"I have high standards," Sanchez said. "Living up to those standards and fulfilling them on a daily basis so that we can overcome challenges and adversity when it matters the most, those playoff games . . . yes, there's pressure, but I don't really see it that way. It's just a matter of fulfilling those high standards that are expected."
The trophy cabinet for Heritage soccer rarely sits idle for long, with the program's fifth a most welcome edition.
Rarely do public schools acquire the kind of lasting program success that Boca Raton saw under Marcello Castillo, but Bobcats boys soccer flourished under the former play and now-veteran coach.
Boca Raton has won state titles in 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2024, encompassing the fervor, discipline, and passion for the game shared by their long-time leader.
"The fact that we're even in the conversation considering I was there for 20 years is very, very humbling, and that's part of the reason, I think, that we've been successful," Castillo said. "We've always been a team, no matter what the expectations are, that is respectful to the game, humble to the game, and never took anything for granted and put in the work that it takes to be successful."
When the program won in 2010, it was the first state championship for Boca Raton boys soccer in 20 years, dating back to a team led by Ron Matella, a time when there were just three classifications and when the state title game was held at the University of Tampa.
It wasn't always easy.
"The challenge is never getting complacent," Castillo said. "That was a part of the issue with a lot of programs. They expect to win. Soccer is very, very blue collar. You can't really expect to win because when you do expect things and you don't put in the preparation and the work, the dedication and the respect for the game, it has a way of biting you in the butt — kind of like life."
Between 2005 and 2016, the Bobcats accumulated 11 straight seasons of 20-plus wins, lending credence to Castillo's claim that Boca Raton had become the premier public school soccer program in the state of Florida at the time he reached the 400-win milestone in 2024.
10 regional championships and 16 straight district championships haven't hurt that reputation, either.
But while winning will always be part of Boca Raton soccer's legacy, Castillo hopes his mark was felt in other ways as he guided his student-athletes throughout the years.
"Putting a soccer team together and winning games . . . in the end, it becomes much more than that," Castillo said. "You're trying to raise and contribute to a fine young gentleman, who turns to the work-place, who goes on to become a successful individual, a successful father, a successful grandfather eventually. It's a lot more than just coaching."
Alex Peterman covers high school sports for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: American Heritage, Boca Raton set the Palm Beach standard in boys soccer
Continue reading...
With a maximum of four years of any given player in any given sport, high school sports programs were never intended to find the lasting success fulfilled by star contract players in the pros.
And yet, in the last quarter-century, Palm Beach County has been home to two such programs that have seen prolific runs spanning decades.
Out of 43 Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners — between small schools and big schools across the last 25 years — 12 have come from American Heritage-Delray, and another 10 have come from Boca Raton High School.
The teams have combined for nine state championships, representing Palm Beach County across multiple classifications.
Titles from three coaches color American Heritage-Delray's successful run
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American Heritage-Delray had found success through multiple leaders during the last 25 years, winning titles under Alvin James (2006, 2009, 2011), Jonathan Frias (2018), and Victor Sanchez (2025).
“With those coaches we had, the secret to be honest with you was that they were very connected in the travel community and respected in their own right," American Heritage headmaster Bob Stone said. "They were able to take our directive, match it up to the raw talent they knew in the community, and that’s been the profile and formula for how the boys were able to do it.”
The Stallions' return to title supremacy in 2025 gave American Heritage the most championship wins of any program in Palm Beach County over the last quarter century.
Ironically, enough Benjamin was the first coaching job in Florida for Sanchez after he moved from Connecticut, and at the time, he wasn't sure he'd ever coach high school soccer again following his tenure with the Bucs.
Even at that time, though, the reputation of Heritage soccer was mighty.
"I was familiar with American Heritage as being a powerhouse, predominant, well-known, established soccer program," Sanchez said. "And in my mind, even though I was done coaching high school soccer, I told myself, 'If I did get back into coaching high school soccer, that would be one of the few schools I would consider."
The opportunity came, and he wasn't about to let it pass him by, helping the program to the most recent and perhaps most unexpected of state championships this year.
Sanchez's success brings Heritage back into the topic of state-wide dominance, but the program is no stranger to that particular conversation.
Seven years prior, Frias led a 2018 Stallions team to a no-doubt 5-0 win in the Class 2A state championship over Bolles.
Seven years before that, the Stallions were the team to beat for a number of years with the program capturing three state titles under James in a six-year span, a stretch that also included a state runner-up finish in two of the remaining three seasons (2007, 2010).
That history was well-known to Sanchez when he was handed to proverbial keys to the program, and in some ways there was a certain weight that reputation placed on expectations for success.
Luckily for Heritage — and perhaps for Sanchez as well — it wasn't anything different than the expectations the accomplished coach placed on himself.
"I have high standards," Sanchez said. "Living up to those standards and fulfilling them on a daily basis so that we can overcome challenges and adversity when it matters the most, those playoff games . . . yes, there's pressure, but I don't really see it that way. It's just a matter of fulfilling those high standards that are expected."
The trophy cabinet for Heritage soccer rarely sits idle for long, with the program's fifth a most welcome edition.
Boca Raton sees two decades of stardom under Marcelo Castillo
You must be registered for see images attach
Rarely do public schools acquire the kind of lasting program success that Boca Raton saw under Marcello Castillo, but Bobcats boys soccer flourished under the former play and now-veteran coach.
Boca Raton has won state titles in 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2024, encompassing the fervor, discipline, and passion for the game shared by their long-time leader.
"The fact that we're even in the conversation considering I was there for 20 years is very, very humbling, and that's part of the reason, I think, that we've been successful," Castillo said. "We've always been a team, no matter what the expectations are, that is respectful to the game, humble to the game, and never took anything for granted and put in the work that it takes to be successful."
When the program won in 2010, it was the first state championship for Boca Raton boys soccer in 20 years, dating back to a team led by Ron Matella, a time when there were just three classifications and when the state title game was held at the University of Tampa.
It wasn't always easy.
"The challenge is never getting complacent," Castillo said. "That was a part of the issue with a lot of programs. They expect to win. Soccer is very, very blue collar. You can't really expect to win because when you do expect things and you don't put in the preparation and the work, the dedication and the respect for the game, it has a way of biting you in the butt — kind of like life."
Between 2005 and 2016, the Bobcats accumulated 11 straight seasons of 20-plus wins, lending credence to Castillo's claim that Boca Raton had become the premier public school soccer program in the state of Florida at the time he reached the 400-win milestone in 2024.
10 regional championships and 16 straight district championships haven't hurt that reputation, either.
But while winning will always be part of Boca Raton soccer's legacy, Castillo hopes his mark was felt in other ways as he guided his student-athletes throughout the years.
"Putting a soccer team together and winning games . . . in the end, it becomes much more than that," Castillo said. "You're trying to raise and contribute to a fine young gentleman, who turns to the work-place, who goes on to become a successful individual, a successful father, a successful grandfather eventually. It's a lot more than just coaching."
Player of the Year winners (2000-25)
- American Heritage-Delray – 12
- Boca Raton – 10
- Palm Beach Lakes – 4
- Cardinal Newman – 2
- Spanish River – 2
- Benjamin – 2
- Jensen Beach – 2
- Wellington – 2
- Boca Raton Christian – 1
- Forest Hill – 1
- Jupiter – 1
- Jupiter Christian – 1
- John I. Leonard – 1
- King’s Academy – 1
- Palm Beach Central – 1
Palm Beach County boys soccer state champions
- American Heritage-Delray – 5
- Boca Raton – 4
- Olympic Heights – 1
Alex Peterman covers high school sports for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: American Heritage, Boca Raton set the Palm Beach standard in boys soccer
Continue reading...
