Pike County Soccer Player Matthew Webb Voted ITG Next Georgia Male Athlete of the Month
Congratulations to Pike County High School soccer player Matthew Webb, our ITG Next Georgia Male Athlete of the Month. Webb received the most votes of our four candidates who were nominated for the monthly award.
The other nominees for the award were Norcross junior guard London Johnson from the Blue Devils basketball team; Luke Barlow, a senior RF for the Camden County Wildcats baseball program; and RHP William Joyner of the Lowndes High Vikings baseball program.
Webb, a senior midfielder and team captain on the Pike County Pirates soccer team, is having an incredible season so far, with stats that must seen to be believed.
Through 19 games, Webb has scored 59 goals and has 31 assists with 129 points while led his team to a 16-1-2 record, including a first-round playoff victory in which he scored six goals and had two assists. The Pirates are also currently ranked No. 1 in Class 3A.
Webb is not only having a great senior season, he has enjoyed a stellar career at Pike County – and it could have been even better had he been able to play a complete freshman and sophomore season.
“Matt played with injuries during his ninth grade year,” said Kevin Hobbs, Pike County’s head soccer coach. “Then Covid interrupted his sophomore season, so he has truly only had these two seasons to show what he can do.”
The Pirates coach talked about the incredible numbers Webb has been able to produce, especially in a sport not necessarily known for having much offense.
“Matt has great technical abilities, game awareness, and is so smart,” said Hobbs. “He sees the play way before it develops, and that’s a mark of the really great players.”
Webb has been able to put up those unbelievable individual stats while making selfless moves to help make his team better. According to Hobbs, he asked his star player to change positions – from midfielder, his natural position, to striker forward – to help the team.
“Matt wasn’t too crazy about changing positions, and told me he really wanted to stay as a midfielder,” said Hobbs. “But I told him we needed him to do it for the team, and right then he made the move.”
So, how did he do?
“The transition has been phenomenal,” Hobbs said.
Like any great player, Webb acts as a coach on the field, a trait he performs well, according to Hobbs.
“Matt is out there, directing his teammates where they need to play, and puts everyone in their right spot,” said Hobbs. “He will make a great coach one day, if that’s what he wants to do.”
That day may come, but right now, Matthew Webb has some unfinished business to take care of on the pitch, like perhaps a state championship for his Pirates. Last season, he helped his team to an appearance in the Elite 8 of the AAA state playoffs, and with the victory in week one, this year’s team is ready for the second round, and hopefully for Pirate fans, well beyond that.
As far as continuing to play past high school and into college, his coach says Webb is being highly recruited.
“He will likely play somewhere,” Hobbs said.
In addition to his goal-scoring abilities, Matthew Webb is a 4.0 student, a STEM student, and a dual enrollee. ITG Next Georgia wishes the Pike County senior the best, and congratulates him for being this month’s Male Athlete of the Month.
