WEST PALM BEACH – It has been a senior season to remember for Bernie Cueto.
The King’s Academy kicker is a beacon of light and a trailblazer for all of the other great specialists in Palm Beach County. He was the first one in his group to commit to a college, as evidenced by his decision to go with Washington University (St. Louis) on Aug. 24, 2020.
Cueto achieved another first for his class of specialists, which occurred in 2019. He was nominated for the Lou Groza Placekicker of the Year as a junior.
While the Lions kicker did not get another Lou Groza Award nomination in 2020 as a senior, he still had a very good season. This is a testament to the sheer amount of outstanding kickers, punters, long snappers, and holders we have now in Palm Beach County.
For this reason and others, Cueto has been selected as our 561 Private Special Teams Player of the Year.
King’s Academy head coach Keith Allen spoke on Cueto’s behalf.
“Coming from soccer and only playing football for three years and doing as well as he has, it shows his determination and dedication for the sport,” Allen said. “And him earning a spot with Washington U just proves that his hard work has paid off.”
In six games played, Cueto was 3-for-6 on his field goal attempts (50 percent), one of which was blocked. His field goal connections were from 31, 25, and 21 yards out, respectively.
In addition, Cueto was 21-for-21 (100 percent) on his extra point attempts. He also had two total touchbacks, with a 57-yard kicking average for his kickoffs.
Cueto’s best individual game of the season was in Week 2, when King’s Academy pulled away from Glades Day in a 41-20 road win. He was 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts (31 and 21 yards, respectively), while adding a 58-yard kickoff average and completing a pass on a fake field goal for 19 yards and a first down.
Cueto recapped his senior season at King’s Academy.
“I feel like the season went well,” said Cueto, who beat out fellow nominees Owen Flint (American Heritage sophomore kicker), Andrew MacMillan (Cardinal Newman junior kicker), and Trevor Snider (King’s Academy junior punter) for our 561 Private Special Teams Player of the Year honor.
“There was definitely some room for improvement and some kicks I left on the field, but I was able to contribute to putting the team in the best position to win,” Cueto continued. “Overall, I was so happy to be able to have a senior season after all of the uncertainty amidst the pandemic. I enjoyed being able to suit up one last season with my brothers.”
Jeremy Evans, director of athletic performance at King’s Academy, spoke about Cueto’s level of commitment to the program and his self-improvement.
“Bernie is always one of the hardest workers in the room,” Evans said. “He pounds on his craft and wants to be the best at his job for the team’s benefit. He is a great leader as well for our team, from a spiritual and physical standpoint.”
Now that Cueto’s time at King’s Academy will come to an official end in a few months, his focus is on finishing strong so he can be ready for the college level.
“Besides staying focused in the classroom, I look forward to spending time with family and friends and strengthening my relationship with God,” Cueto said. “I’ll be getting stronger in the weight room, refining my technique on the field, and working my tail off to be the best kicker and man that I can be.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Shots by Dan
