- April 26, 2024
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Matanzas Assistant Principal Sara Novak and Jordan Wood, who played for Novak on the Pirates' first softball team, holds up a sweatshirt with the team's slogan. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas Assistant Principal Sara Novak poses with the softball team after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on March 8. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas Assistant Principal — and the school's first softball coach — Sara Novak, with her first pitcher, Jordan Wood, after the Pirates honored Novak on March 8. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas High School Assistant Principal Sara Novak started the Pirates’ softball program. She also created the Matanzas Preseason Softball Classic. On Friday, March 8, the softball team dedicated the tournament in her honor, renaming it the Sara Novak Preseason Classic.
Novak, who is this year's Flagler Schools’ Assistant Principal of the Year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Pirates’ softball game against Seabreeze. She was escorted to the pitching circle by her mentee, sophomore outfielder Kenna Hardee, who said Novak has had a positive influence on her life.
The team held the dedication to go along with the Pirate Athletic Committee’s Parking Lot Party on a night that the school hosted four athletic events: the softball game against Seabreeze, JV and varsity baseball games against Flagler Palm Coast and a boys lacrosse game against Menendez.
Novak received a bouquet of roses and hugs from the Pirates’ current players as well as from some former players, including Jordan Wood, who was Novak's first pitcher during the team's inaugural season. When Novak was the coach, the team’s slogan was “She who has the will to win cannot be defeated.” It is still the team’s slogan today.
Matanzas coach Sabrina Manhart said the quote has defined the team’s culture and Novak is an example of what the quote stands for.
Manhart said she had wanted to hold the dedication during the 15th annual Preseason Classic in February, but Novak was out of town at the time caring for her mother who had been ill. Novak even missed the Teacher of the Year Gala in January because of her mother’s sudden illness.
“It’s been a rough year for her,” Manhart said. “We wanted to do this because she has done so much for Matanzas. Some of our girls have special relationships with her. She bleeds blue and is just the heart of Matanzas.”
