Past Glory

1996-1997

The 1996-7 season was up and down for the Valencia teams. Although the Mats again won the regional championship, this time beating Florda College in the final, they didn't qualify two teams for the state tournament. Worse yet, after a close loss to eventual champion Broward C. C. in the first round of the state tournament's round robin, the team didn't even play in the state final match for the first time in three years. The "A" team that year consisted of captain Joe McCahill, Fred "the Nigerian Nightmare" Mawudzro, Fabio "I'm of Italian origin even though I was born in Brazil" Juliano, and Walt "No Nickname" Swinton.