Sedaros and Viera Hawks football team up for a winning season
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Viera High School Football had an amazing season this year! Definitely not a typical start of spring football and summer practices, as everything was canceled or delayed due to the pandemic. There was even a time when there was a question as to whether football or any fall sport would be played. Thankfully, Brevard County Public Schools gave the okay for sports to begin early summer in small groups. Ultimately, many fall sports looked quite different this summer with new measures in place.
Pandemic regulations made the practices in small groups and the seniors led the team at VHS. This allowed them the chance to step up and prepare the team for a season that would be like no other.
However with Covid regulations, teams were limited to playing in-county teams only. This made it interesting as they usually play in a district that has them playing a mix of out of county and in-county teams. Viera was lucky to make it through the season, only missing one game against a local team that had Covid.
Playing powerhouses in football, they didn’t take the season lightly and made sure they had competition each week. In the end, they made it to the Regional Semifinals before losing to Edgewater (Orlando). This was an accomplishment in itself for an off year and season that almost didn’t happen.
Derek Smith, 3rd year head coach at Viera high school (7th year at VHS and 23rd year coaching football), acknowledges it was an out of the ordinary season and was proud of his seniors for “their brotherhood and the boys had each others backs no matter what.”
Senior Zak Sedaros had another exceptional year and led his team back-to-back years as team captain. Sedaros says, “Being captain my Junior and Senior years really allowed me to mature as a leader. I took great pride in leading my team and it was very important to me. Over the course of this year my coaches and teammates called me the Prez (President) because of the leadership and loyalty that they saw in me.” His team definitely believed in him as a leader as he always included them in his pre-game ritual of, “Praying to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that me and my teammates play to the best of our ability and that I can glorify Him in everything that I do.”
Sedaros started playing the game at the age of 4 and is fortunate enough to have his coach from that young age as one of his coaches at the high school. Football has been his love for many years, but he also stays in condition for the season by participating in track and tennis on the VHS Varsity teams in the spring. A multiple position player, who excels in each area in which he plays, Sedaros was seen this past season in corner, safety, slot receiver, wide receiver, running back, wing back, kick returner, and holder positions on the football team.
VHS has had great football teams through the years of this young school, including a 2015 competitor in the state championship game. The coaching staff has been top notch for years and Sedaros feels blessed that his high school coaches give so much effort each week. He knows that this does not happen at every school and he is lucky that he has had great coaches from flag football all the way to his senior year of high school. This has helped with his continued love for the game and wanting to pursue it after high school and beyond.
Coach Smith says, “Sedaros is a natural leader. His work ethic is superb. Great student, player, and a very intelligent communicator. He is also very reliable ethically and responsible.” When coaches have a player like this on the team, they are lucky. In fact, the seniors, along with Sedaros did a great job in preparing the team for the season and working together. Coach Smith, along with the other coaches, were proud of the team this season winning multiple playoff games. They are excited to see what the Class of 2022 can do as they step up next season.
Playing a sport in college requires not only showing athleticism, but also the ability to do well in school academically. A 4.0 student, Sedaros learned how to study and to manage his time well while in middle school. It was there that he started working as hard in the classroom as he does on the field – never wanting to be average. With a desire to play in college and beyond, he knew he had to excel on and off the field and he does just that.
More than a handful of colleges have offered him scholarships and a spot on their team, and that would not have happened without his drive and determination. He has not decided on a college as of yet but is honored and blessed to have the offers. He plans to pursue a degree in the medical field once he does enroll later this year at the college of his choosing.
This was probably my most enjoyable year of football that I have played in a long time. Our team was extremely unselfish, and we were a family. There is nothing better then playing next to a bunch of your brothers that truly care about you and the team. – Zak Sedaros
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