It's more than sports: It's family

By Emily Chaffins - Freelance Writer

DAVIE | This year wasn't the first time Coach Chris Cardoso led St. David Catholic School's varsity boys basketball team to an undefeated season.

He has coached the Davie team for five years. The Wolfhounds were undefeated in 2022, were crowned champions one season ago with only one loss, and went undefeated this 2025–26 season.

However, one important event has never happened in Cardoso's time as Wolfhound coach: witnessing his team being honored in a school-wide awards ceremony.

That is, until this year.

Father Ryan Saunders, pastor of St. David Parish and School, launched St. David's first-ever Sports Awards Ceremony in collaboration with Fred Maas. Maas wears many hats: faculty substitute, sports coach, and campus security director. While serving as former athletic director at Little Flower School in Hollywood, Maas created the program's first sports awards banquet in 2025. Father Saunders was inspired to host a similar event in St. David's parish hall this year.

More than 120 student-athletes were honored at the May 29 ceremony for their performance during the 2025–26 season. The athletics program, led by athletic director Dr. Arthur Kosakowski, includes students in grades 5-8 involved in basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, cheerleading, cross country, and track and field.

"At St. David, we have an emphasis on 'student-athletes': they're here to receive an education, and athletics is an important part of that," explained Father Saunders. The awards ceremony "recognizes their work not only in class but also in the arena."

Not only did the varsity boys basketball team win an undefeated championship, but other teams also ranked highly. The girls track and field team won first place at this past season's diocesan meet, the girls cross country team finished in third place overall, and the girls flag football team achieved second place in the diocese.

Numerous student-athletes received the honor of team MVP (Most Valuable Player), the Sportsmanship Award, or the Wolfhound Spirit Award for emulating school values.

Moreover, every student-athlete received at least one participation award. As Maas highlighted, St. David School believes every sport should be celebrated. It's part of making sure every kid knows they are valued and upholding the school's family feeling — an ethos prized by students and parents alike.

 

A team effort: ceremony highlights

The smile on her face was as wide as a football field as Payton Lago accepted her MVP award from Dr. Kosakowski. An 8th-grader, Payton's efforts were instrumental in the girls flag football team's second-place ranking this year.

Although she plays many other sports — basketball, volleyball, and track and field — she enjoys flag football most.

"I like watching football with my dad, so getting to play flag football is fun," said Payton, who also earned the Wolfhound Spirit Award for girls volleyball. "Going to the [flag football] championship this year, we lost, but it [still] felt really good. I've been playing since 6th grade, and this is the first time we made it to the championship."

The most significant lesson she's internalized is that "you have to rely on your teammates and trust others. It's not about yourself."

Celebrating the achievements of dedicated athletes like Payton with an awards ceremony would never have come together without the efforts of sponsors and volunteers. Food was donated, and the kids had a blast taking pictures at the photo backdrop and playing an impromptu round of "balloon volleyball."

Stuart Weinstein, former Miami Dolphins security director, served as the inaugural guest speaker. A Christian convert from Judaism who led Dolphins security for more than 30 years, Weinstein spoke about the connectedness of faith and sports.

Growing up, all he wanted was to become a champion in baseball or football. God was going to fulfill his dreams in a way he'd never imagined. Even though he never became a sports star, he still got his wish to work with champions: Coach Don Shula's Miami Dolphins.

While facilitating security, Weinstein also mentored the players, speaking about his Christian faith at team chapel services and Bible studies. He fondly remembers Coach Don Shula's unwavering commitment to the Catholic faith. In fact, when the Dolphins began training at Nova Southeastern University in 1993, Shula attended Mass at St. David Parish.

"We could have a Monday night game, and on the road, you wouldn't be home till 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning," he said. "Don Shula would be at Mass that next morning. Faith, family, and football — he didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk."

Today, Weinstein still encourages players through the Miami Dolphins Alumni Association, helping alumni with everything from figuring out insurance to navigating life problems, as his wife, Renee, noted.

"For a mediocre high school football player to serve the NFL, it's all God," said Weinstein.

More than a school: a family

Sue Sandelier, incoming principal starting fall 2026, highlighted St. David School's secret to success: "The sense of community and family, all working together and helping one another."

According to Father Saunders, the awards ceremony exemplifies this attitude. "For all the parents I've spoken to, all the prospective parents I've interviewed, one thing they all tell me is that St. David School feels like family. That's what this event continues to build: community."

Coach Cardoso believes this season's undefeated varsity boys basketball team stood out because of its sense of community. They were a "special group" to him because he had coached many of the players for years, including one from as early as 4th grade. In addition, Cardoso's own family was on the roster: his son Michael.

"I'm proud of the way he plays. I know I'm very hard on him," he said, smiling.

Cardoso selected Seba Jacob Ophar and Blaize Konkal as this season's co-MVPs because he "couldn't pick just one." However, everyone on the team demonstrates fortitude, as Cardoso conditions them through sprints to compensate for the Wolfhounds' "Achilles' heel": their lack of tall players.

As the team received a ginormous trophy at the ceremony, they could have been thinking of one of this season's greatest victories: winning the championship against the St. Gregory School Crusaders from Plantation, whose taller players sidelined last season's chance to go undefeated.

Blaize Konkal, an 8th-grader and co-MVP, had a special reason for aspiring to an undefeated season: family. His older sister — a former Wolfhound — was instrumental in the girls basketball team's undefeated season a year ago.

"She got me into basketball. I used to go to her games," said Blaize, who was inspired to begin training at age 6 because of how much fun his sister was having.

He was also selected as MVP for boys flag football.

Throughout planning the ceremony, Maas wanted student-athletes to feel valued and motivated. "What makes St. David School's athletics unique is that we treat every sport, from cheerleading to varsity basketball to cross country, with the same importance and support for all."

"Every student who participates dedicates time, effort, hard work, and hours of practice to his or her sport," he added. "Therefore, every student is recognized in similar fashion, not just those who excel."

As for incoming Principal Sandelier — a former softball coach — she sees sports as integral to spiritual growth. "It teaches students how to deal with wins and losses and helps us to be good children of God."

Kylee Gilmartin, a 7th-grader, agrees. Although her passion is track and field, she also participates in cross country, volleyball, basketball, and flag football. Sports can strengthen faith "because it's always about good sportsmanship, not having a bad attitude," said Kylee, who earned the Sportsmanship Award for girls flag football.

Her teammate, Payton, says praying before every game allows her to "feel the whole time like God is by my side."

Having studied at St. David since kindergarten, Payton is preparing to begin high school in the fall. The girls flag football MVP reflected, "It feels like I've made a lot of progress through the years. I've grown a lot."

As for Cardoso, he wants his basketball team to know that coaching them "means everything to me."

Pope Leo XIV's call to embrace sports

Pope Leo XIV — a Chicago White Sox fan — chose the value of sports as his prayer intention for June 2026. Watch the video by clicking here and read his prayer below:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord of life,
we thank you for the gift of sport,
for those who glorify God through the exercise of their bodies,
for the friendships born on the field
and the joy of playing as a team.
You teach us that in life, as in the game,
no one is saved alone.
We need others to grow,
to learn respect, to overcome our limits,
and to celebrate together the victories we achieve.
We ask that sport may always be
a school of fraternity, not of empty rivalry,
a space of encounter, not exclusion,
a path of peace, not violence.
May those who play, train, or cheer
discover in sport a universal language
that brings cultures together, unites peoples,
and sows respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
Lord Jesus,
may every sport become a parable of life lived with you,
working with joy and effort,
living with humility in defeat
and with gratitude in the victory you offer in your resurrection.
May your Spirit never be lacking in us,
making us one team, united with you
to build communion and fraternity in history.
Amen.