- November 4, 2024
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To acknlowledge some of the student athletes who made this year one of the most successful sports years in the school’s history, Flagler Palm Coast held its annual Outstanding Athlete of the Year Awards Thursday, May 14, at the Hilton Inn.
After presenting student athletes, coaches and trainers with awards, Stephen DeAugustino, the athletic director, turned the crowd’s attention to a student that wasn’t an athlete or a trainer.
“He will never be the star of a football game. He will never be an MVP. But, he will do anything that’s asked of him,” said DeAugustino to the listeners. “He never asks you for anything. He shows up, does what he can, works concession stands and takes tickets at the booth. He’s there fall, winter, spring season, and he’s all in. He’s in there to do whatever is necessary. Please welcome Preston Even up for this special award.”
Just as DeAugustino described his work ethic, there he was in the conference room, distanced, in the corner with his father, Bill Even, who joined his son to celebrate FPC’s athletes and coaches on their big night. Even walked to the front to receive his award to a standing ovation from some of the coaches and trainers he’s helped along the way.
“I was very surprised I got an award, but I was proud just to be a part of the ceremony,” Even said. “To be recognized for all those things Coach DeAugustino said made me feel special.”
When he injured himself during wrestling season his freshman year, Even, wanting to still be a part of the team, began to help out in any way he could. Realizing how much he enjoyed his new position as an assistant, Even made it full-time, and when other coaches saw his hard work, they wanted in.
After wrestling, he was asked to be a manager for the girls basketball team, a position he’s fallen in love with.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Even said. “I love hanging around the team and the coaches. I loved it so much, I’ve decided to stick with it.”
Even has, since, gone on to assist with boys and girls tennis, basketball, football, wrestling and softball. He hopes he will be able to, one day, turn his efforts into a career.
“I plan to study either sports medicine or managing at college, when I graduate,” he said. “I want to do this for the rest of my life.”
According to DeAugustino, Even will have no problems becoming a lifetime assistant; he excels at it.
