Zeke Seguro, the head boys soccer coach at West Hartford’s Hall High School. won his 250th game Wednesday night.
By Ronni Newton
Zeke Seguro knew he was close to hitting a milestone at the beginning of the season, but he said he had lost track and wasn’t thinking about it at all as he coached the Hall boys to a 3-1 victory over Plainville Wednesday night on the Warriors’ home turf.
“It came as a surprise to me,” Seguro said, but his wife, Maryanne, who is the administrative assistant in Hall’s Athletic Office, was very much aware that he was about to reach 250 career wins.
“My wife did the t-shirts. She had them printed,” Seguro said. The shirts were ready a week or two before the Plainville game, he said, not knowing when he would hit the 250 milestone. Although Hall hasn’t lost yet this season, three games have ended in ties.
After the whistle blew on Oct. 4, the special shirts were handed out to the team, and all proudly posed for photos.
Seguro is in his 23rd year coaching the Hall boys, and has amassed an overall record of 250-99-57. He said throughout the state there are a few longtime boys soccer coaches, with 30-plus years under their belts and 400-500 wins.
The numbers haven’t been verified, Seguro said, but he believes that former Hall coach Dave Deacon, who coached for 32 years from 1957-1989, had 310 wins over his career.
“But 250, it’s up there,” Seguro said.
The Hall team is exceeding expectations so far this season, Seguro said. “We’re doing well. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year,” he said. “But we have a group of kids who came into the season in shape and were playing together leading up to the season.”
This year’s team is built around four experienced players who have been on the varsity team since freshman or sophomore year, Seguro said. Their enthusiastic teammates have been following their lead.
“I’m very pleased with the progress,” Seguro said. “A little bit surprised? Yes.”
As of Monday, Hall’s record is 6-0-3, but Seguro said that two of the ties were among the team’s best games, particularly the 2-2 tie against Farmington on Sept 22.
That game was played away, at Farmington’s home field at Tunxis Mead – a very tough place to play. “They’re good, they’re very good,” Seguro said of the Farmington boys.
He said he was very proud of his team’s come-from-behind effort, really pressing in the second half to tie the game.
The Oct. 2 game against crosstown rival Conard, which also ended in a 2-2 tie, was also a great contest, Seguro said, and one of the best Hall vs. Conard games in the past 10 years. Conard, with a record of 5-2-2, is also having a good season.
“It’s a humbling feat and I am very honored,” Seguro said of reaching 250 wins. “What it really means is that I’ve had a great group of talented individuals come through the program.
Every group of players wants to leave a legacy, Seguro said. “Reaching 250 wins is a tribute to great players. Really all of the credit goes to the players.”
Hall visits Tolland High School on Tuesday, Oct. 10, as Seguro hopes to extend the team’s unbeaten streak.
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True, he always has amazing players, but what makes Zeke Seguro truly great is his love for the game, and his ability to motivate his kids. He’s not sticking around to prove anything to anyone. He is there because of his passion and drive. In this day and age, that is remarkable to see.