- December 26, 2024
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Pete Hald helped start the FPC girls soccer program 31 years ago. Photos by Brian McMillan
Emma Swearingen battles Victoria Wilcox for position on Dec. 9. Photos by Brian McMillan
Rayliana Giaccone. Photos by Brian McMillan
FPC's Savannah O'Grady and Lexie Shupe. Photos by Brian McMillan
Isabella Zuller. Photos by Brian McMillan
Jessie Seay said she is inspired to play hard by her parents. Photos by Brian McMillan
Savannah Strickland. Photos by Brian McMillan
Ava O'Malley. Photos by Brian McMillan
FPC administration and family joined the team to congratulate Pete Hald on his 500th win. Photos by Brian McMillan
Pete Hald refused to be the center of attention.
Despite being coaxed, the coach of Flagler Palm Coast High School’s girls soccer team remained at the far end of the group photo, far from the gold, oversized balloons in the shape of 500, signifying that the Lady Bulldogs’ 8-0 over Matanzas on Dec. 9 marked the 500th of his 31-year career.
But the players smiled and celebrated for him anyway.
When asked what the 500th win meant to him, Hald said with a smile, “I’m not going to tell you how many losses.”
He said later that he figures he has coached about 900 high school games, with about 80 ties.
Abra Seay, an assistant principal at FPC, joined in the celebration after the game, which was played on the FPC practice field after Dec. 8’s game had been rained out.
“I was here for win 1,” Seay said. “I was on his first team, in 1991. He started the girls team, and I was the only freshman.”
She remembered Hald as being even more intense in those days. Then she quipped, “With age, you get a little more mellow.”
Seay’s daughter Jessie is a junior on FPC, and Marci is on junior varsity.
After the game, Hald was among the last at the gate, waiting for the crowd to leave, waiting for the lights to be turned off. He got in his car to drive away, and two of his balloons were in the back seat. His son had taken the 5, leaving just the two 0’s.
“Guessing I’m starting over again,” he said with a smile.
