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Good morning!
The All Sports Association honored local athletes and a Wuerffel Trophy winner at its annual banquet, celebrating athletic excellence across the area. Fort Walton Beach boys soccer receives a royal sendoff as the Vikings head to their second straight Final Four, local students are honored by DAR for essays on American history and civic values, Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk re-opens for the 2026 season with new menu additions, Santa Rosa Beach Attorney Dana Matthews II joins the ECCAC Board of Directors, a Bruner Middle School student wins a statewide math competition, and it’s the last week for local nonprofits to apply for Cox Charities grants.
SPORTS
FWB boys soccer gets royal sendoff as Vikings head to second straight Final Four
The Fort Walton Beach Vikings boys soccer team isn’t just heading back to the Final Four — they’re heading back with an entire community behind them.
On Wednesday morning, the multipurpose room at Fort Walton Beach High School was packed with students, staff, parents and community members as the Vikings received a sendoff fit for the moment. The crowd cheered the team on as they boarded the bus bound for DeLand, where they’ll face American Heritage in the Class 4A state semifinals Thursday at 4 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium.
- The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office escorted the bus out, while the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department gave the Vikings a water cannon salute from a ladder truck as they departed.
It’s the second consecutive year the Vikings have made the trip to the Final Four — a feat that, before last season, the program hadn’t accomplished in four decades. But head coach Mario Rodriguez said this year’s team is carrying a different energy.
“We’re here a year later, same spot, Final Four — with a different mindset,” Rodriguez said. “Last year was new, so the boys were nervous. Now we know the expectations.”
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GAMES
WordroW: February 26, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
AMERICA 250
Local students honored by DAR for essays on American history, civic values
Six local students were recognized for their writing about American history and civic responsibility during an awards ceremony hosted by the West Florida Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Connelly Grelle, a sixth grader at Destin Middle School, took first place in the chapter’s 2026 American History Essay Contest with her piece titled “Put Your John Hancock on That.”
- The contest invited students in fifth through eighth grades to imagine traveling back to 1776 to have lunch with a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Freeport Middle School student Sheilia Bouldridge earned second place.
Three area high school seniors received Good Citizen Awards: Anaya Patel of Seacoast Collegiate High School claimed first place, with Elijah Brooks Ordis of Destin High School and Austin Hays Hostetler of South Walton High School named as runners-up.
PROMOTED
Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar re-opens for the 2026 season with new menu additions
Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is set to re-open for the upcoming season on March 1, 2026 at 11 a.m.
- The popular beachfront restaurant is welcoming locals and visitors back with its signature burgers, baskets and homemade custard milkshakes served just steps from the sand. Known for its laid-back atmosphere and sunset views, Al’s marks the start of beach days done right.
New this season, Al’s is expanding its menu with a hot dog section featuring all-beef jumbo Vienna hot dogs served on toasted potato buns. Options include The Classic Dog, Bacon Cheddar Dog and the Southern Dog, which is served on housemade Brussels slaw and topped with smoked pulled pork and barbecue sauce.
With Spring Break kicking off the week of March 9, the Boardwalk’s nightly entertainment lineup is also returning in full swing.
BUSINESS
Santa Rosa Beach Attorney Dana Matthews II joins ECCAC Board of Directors
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center has added a familiar face to its Board of Directors, welcoming Attorney Dana. “DC” Matthews II to help guide the nonprofit organization’s mission of healing and preventing childhood trauma across Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Matthews, a lifelong Northwest Florida resident who was born and raised in Santa Rosa Beach, brings both legal expertise and deep community roots to ECCAC’s leadership team. His appointment comes as the organization continues expanding its reach, having assisted 1,553 children and delivered Safety Matters prevention education to 17,275 students in area schools during 2025 alone.
For Matthews, joining the ECCAC board represents a continuation of the community involvement that has defined his career since returning to the Emerald Coast more than a decade ago.
“I grew up here, moved back, got married, and now my wife and I are raising our two children in this community,” Matthews said. “So, helping children in need in our local area is important to me. I am excited to assist ECCAC in any way I can to further its great cause.”
SCHOOL
Bruner Middle School student wins statewide math competition
An eighth-grader at Bruner Middle School is being celebrated after earning a perfect score on a statewide math competition — and treating his entire class to tacos in the process.
- Jake Revette, a student in Dr. Norma Eliason’s class was selected as one of three winners across Florida in Math Nation’s Test Yourself contest, which ran through November and December. The competition drew approximately 41,000 participants statewide.
Revette earned a perfect 10/10 score on his Algebra 1 Unit 6 Test Yourself assessment. Students who scored 6/10 or higher were entered into a random drawing for prizes, but Revette’s flawless performance made his selection especially notable.
As part of the prize, Math Nation provided a fully catered taco party for Revette’s entire class.
PROMOTED BY COX
Last week for local nonprofits to apply for Cox Charities grants
The deadline for local nonprofits to apply for 2026 Cox Charities Community Investment Grants is quickly approaching. Nonprofit organizations across the Gulf Coast are encouraged to apply before the deadline on Monday, March 2, 2026, at www.coxcharitieseast.org.
These employee funded grants are then awarded annually to nonprofits that support key focus areas, including:
- Youth innovation programs centered in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM)
- Conservation and environmental sustainability initiatives
- Efforts advancing equal opportunity
Nonprofits in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties doing impactful work in STEAM education, advancing equal opportunity, or sustainability are encouraged to apply. To learn more or submit an application, visit www.coxcharitieseast.org.
SPORTS
Local high school sports coverage Sponsorship Opportunity
Since early November, Get the Coast has been providing dedicated coverage of Okaloosa County high school sports – and the response from our community has been incredible.
- Our sports reporter Travis Espy has been covering football playoffs, basketball, soccer, and now baseball and softball seasons across Choctawhatchee, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Baker, and Destin high schools.
These aren’t just game recaps. We’re telling the stories behind the scores – profiling standout athletes, celebrating championship runs, covering college signing days, and highlighting the moments that make our community proud of our student-athletes.
Now that we’ve found our footing with consistent, quality sports coverage, we’re opening up a short-run sponsorship opportunity for the spring season. And to be honest, funding for sports coverage is needed.
What We’re Looking For: We need 4 local business sponsors to support our sports coverage from March through May. If you’re interested in supporting local high school sports coverage and getting your business recognized as a community champion, reply to this email or contact me directly at jared@getthecoast.com.
SPORTS
All Sports Association honors local athletes, Wuerffel Trophy winner at annual banquet
The All Sports Association held its annual awards banquet Friday at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, with NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks serving as keynote speaker.
Former Choctaw football star Alex Ward, now a long snapper for the Las Vegas Raiders, received the professional award. “I’ve been going to the All Sports Awards all my life,” Ward said. “Now that I’m one of them, it’s just a huge full-circle moment.”
Niceville’s Harper Campbell earned the Taylor Haugen Trophy, given to the athlete who best embodies the spirit of Taylor Haugen. Niceville head coach Richard Morgan called him “everything you’d want in a football player.”
Fort Walton Beach two-way softball star Izzy Douglas, the MVP of the Lady Vikings’ first state championship run, earned the female scholastic award.
Niceville baseball star Deacon Avery, a driving force in the revitalization of Eagles baseball, took home the male scholastic award.
South Walton’s Coleman Borthwick, an Auburn commit and the MVP of the 2025 U-18 Baseball World Cup where Team USA won gold, received the amateur award. “To represent the country is something everybody dreams about doing,” Borthwick said.
Navarre High graduate Ethan McCormick, who made history as the first athlete with a disability to compete on his middle school’s wrestling and track teams, received the Special Olympian award.
Read about all of this year’s winners, including Wuerffel Trophy recipient Michael Taaffe and collegiate honorees Jayce Brown and Gracie Grant. Story by Travis Espy
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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