Undefeated seasons and enduring friendships

By Emily Chaffins -

Photography: EMILY CHAFFINS | FC

HOLLYWOOD | Approximately 50 years ago, when Irvin Bruce was a middle-schooler at St. Lawrence School in North Miami Beach, he considered himself an “average basketball player, not a star.” However, during an unforgettable game, a coach from a contending team made him feel special – a moment that has stuck with him all these years.

“We were playing Visitation School (now closed),” Bruce recalled. “I shot from the wing, and it went in. I was amazed I made it!”

He was further surprised when he heard Visitation’s coach, Fred Maas, call out, “Good shot!” Although Maas was friends with Bruce’s father, Bruce was expecting Maas to act like an opponent on the court.

“It’s unusual to get an opposing coach’s encouragement, but that’s just who he is,” said Bruce.

Later on, Bruce played on Maas’ All-Star Team, and still considers Maas his “mentor.” Now athletic director at Little Flower School in Hollywood, Maas invited Bruce to share his story about forging bonds within Catholic athletics as guest speaker at the school’s 2024-25 Sports Awards Banquet May 22, 2025.

The event celebrated the achievements of the school’s athletes, coaches, and volunteers – including the soccer team’s undefeated season and the boys volleyball team’s third place win at a tournament hosted by Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale March 14-15.

The community came together to make the awards banquet possible. Contributors included athletes’ parents; church and school administration; Bruce, now a Publix store manager; and more. The event’s theme was “Building relationships that last a lifetime.”

In addition to traditional awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) - presented to Mirko Skupeika for basketball, Luca Cavalcante for soccer, Jayden Roberts for boys volleyball, and Kiara Ruiz for girls volleyball – the sports program handed out unique honors, including the “Ice Man Award,” “Tough as Nails Award,” and “Outside the Lines Award.”

“Every student who participated in a sport was recognized,” explained Maas, noting that the purpose of the ceremony was not only to motivate those receiving the awards. “It also sets an example for the younger students, so they can see what they can accomplish as they grow, and that all their hard work is rewarded in some way – the hours they spend in the hot sun to get better at their sport.”

Maas believes that Little Flower athletes show special team spirit. “We’re on the smaller size, yet we compete with some schools… two to three times larger,” he said. “We work just as hard.”

 

SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF CATHOLIC ATHLETICS

Maas strongly believes in the benefits of Catholic education; he is a product of Catholic schools himself. He even spent six years at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, at that time a “minor seminary” with a high school and two-year college program. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami was his classmate, and the two remain friends.

After graduating from the seminary in 1970, Maas chose to enroll in Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University) rather than continue on the path to priesthood. The following year, he started teaching middle school social science at Visitation School and coaching basketball and baseball until 1975.

“I wanted to teach in the Catholic school system because of the influences my coaches had on me,” he said. “I thought it was a terrific job.”

His work at Visitation led to an unexpected path. Some of his students’ parents worked in law enforcement and suggested Maas try a police ride-along. He was hooked. In 1975, he joined up and even served on Pope John Paul II’s security detail during the 1987 papal visit to Miami.

After serving for 43 years, including 20 years as police chief of Sunny Isles Beach, Maas retired in 1998. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Knight of St. Sylvester. In 2018, Maas was inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame.

Just as his time teaching in Catholic schools led him to the police force, he would find his way back. A year and a half ago, Maas discovered that Little Flower School needed more teachers.

“I met with the principal and started work the next day,” recalled Maas, who also teaches sixth grade homeroom and social studies.

Maas believes that Catholic athletics instills players with a sense of responsibility, specifically through the Play Like a Champion Today training program for athletes, coaches, and parents. “It’s all about sportsmanship and the fact that we as a team represent Catholic schools,” he explained.

Lucia Gomez, an incoming seventh grader at Little Flower who plays girls volleyball, has witnessed firsthand how respect for others can make the difference. She says her team is special “because we all have sportsmanship and never bring each other down.”

Markus Skupeika, basketball coach at Little Flower, seeks to instill practical life lessons in his players that will serve them on and off the court. A former professional basketball player for FIBA (the International Basketball Federation), Skupeika attended Catholic school and is giving his sons the same education through Little Flower School.

“The way of living the Catholic faith is important, the morals, the discipline. Believing in God is important,” said Skupeika.

“Watching basketball with my kids, I felt it would be beneficial to teach them how to react in defense and in life,” he added, explaining why he started coaching.

He highlights “next play mentality,” a mindset that says “don’t worry about the mistakes – let’s focus on what’s next and try to figure it out. It gives them a chance to relax and have fun.”

Lucia has picked up the same strategy from her volleyball coaches: “You’re not always going to win, but when you make mistakes, that’s when you can improve on it,” she said.

These strong team bonds, with teammates supporting one another, make it “fun when we go to games,” as Lucia put it.

As for Bruce, he believes “Catholic school made a big difference.”

“I think it’s the teachers, I think it’s the faith-based, family-type atmosphere that makes Catholic education stand apart,” he said.