BLINN MEN’S SOCCER PLAYER SAM SEBAGABO MAKES PROGRAM HISTORY

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

Blinn College men’s soccer sophomore Sam Sebagabo made history Tuesday.

The midfielder from Birmingham, England, was selected to the NJCAA Men’s Soccer Division I All-America first team, becoming the first Buccaneer to nab first-team recognition.

“It is an absolute honor,” Sebagabo said. “I would have never envisioned this when I got to Blinn, but I can only thank my coaches and my teammates for giving me the opportunity and having the faith in me to perform at a high level.”

Sebagabo is Blinn’s second All-America honoree, but the first to earn a first-team nod. Former Bucs forward David Garcia earned second-team honors during his sophomore season in 2023.

After going without a goal or an assist in 15 matches for Tyler Junior College in 2024, Sebagabo transferred to Blinn in the summer and blossomed in the fall.

He led the Bucs with 10 goals to go with five assists, and a posted a team-high 25 points. He finished with five goals and three assists in region play and helped Blinn to a 14-5 record and its first berth in the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship tournament. Sebagabo recorded one assist at the national tournament and was named to the all-tournament team.

Additionally, Sebagabo earned Region 14 first-team recognition and landed on the United Soccer Coaches All-America and All-Midwest Region teams.

“After Sam came over from Tyler, we changed his role on the field a little bit and he ran with it,” Blinn head coach Michael McBride said. “He fully embraced that role and accepted the new responsibility we were placing on him. As a sophomore, he immediately stepped into a leadership position as well and really let his game speak for itself. I could not be more proud of that young man.”