The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy boys’ soccer team experienced an encouraging resurgence this year, and in the midst of it, opposing coaches in the conference specifically highlighted two Saints players and the team’s bearing overall.

Saints senior Josh Gabri was selected to the All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools first team, sophomore Tanner Jackson made the second team and the team was bestowed with the TCIS Sportsmanship Award.

NSA coach Patrick Whelan was excited to see Gabri’s selection.

“Josh’s skill just shines on the soccer field,” he said. “It was wonderful to see. I was so happy for him, because I know he’s put (in) a lot of work, and he loves the game.”

Commenting on his first ever all-conference recognition, Gabri said, “It’s an honor,” and he said the reason he was chosen was “probably my assists, because I had so many assists.”

He led the Saints with 11 assists but also contributed four goals, second-best on the team.

“Josh’s skill on the field is so noticeable,” Whelan said. “He runs our center midfield, which is the engine of our team.”

The coach said he had good vision, was a hard tackler and scored important goals.

“If I had to vote for a Most Valuable Player, he would be one of the top contenders just about every game he played in,” Whelan said.

Tanner Jackson led Nansemond-Suffolk with 11 goals this year.

“The future’s really bright for him in the program,” Whelan said. “He went from scoring zero (goals) last season to 11. That is an incredible jump.”

It was a product of his work ethic that was on display in practice.

“Every water break we’d take, he’d be working on his skill, always asking questions, wanting to get coached up,” Whelan said.

The NSA boys’ soccer team is no stranger to the TCIS Sportsmanship Award.

“We’ve won it in years past, and it’s always been sort of a nice feather in the cap for the team to be recognized as such, but there was something different about this year,” Whelan said.

The Saints managed to be physical and competitive this season, but still put honor above all, as is heralded in the school’s mission statement.

“It’s something that coach (Francisco) Sanin and I really try to preach and live by, and the guys lived up to that,” Whelan said.