A Ring 46 Years in the Making

When 93-year-old Coach Sam Budnyk returned to Cardinal Newman High School on May 14, it wasn't simply to celebrate the Crusaders' first football state championship. It was to receive a championship ring of his own, symbolizing the decades he spent building one of Palm Beach County's most respected football programs and mentoring generations of young men along the way.

Cardinal Newman celebrated its historic 2025 FHSAA Class 1A Football State Championship season with a special Ring Ceremony honoring players, coaches, and Budnyk, whose 46 years at the school helped lay the foundation for the success of Crusader football.

Family, friends, alumni, and supporters gathered on campus as players and coaches received commemorative championship rings marking the program's first football state title in school history. One of the event's most memorable moments came when Budnyk, surrounded by members of his family, accepted a championship ring of his own in recognition of his lasting impact on Cardinal Newman.

“I greatly appreciated Coach Daniels and Cardinal Newman recognizing all the young men and football teams that came before them by honoring me with a state championship ring,” said Budnyk. “I am humbled and honored to have been included in the celebration of Newman’s first football state championship.”

Widely respected as one of the most influential figures in Florida high school football history, Budnyk coached at Cardinal Newman for more than four decades, earning more than 300 career victories while helping establish the school as a perennial football power. His influence extended far beyond the football field, shaping the lives of generations of student-athletes and helping define the values that continue to guide the program today.

“Cardinal Newman’s football program has a long history of excellence in Palm Beach County, and winning a state title is a monumental achievement to be celebrated by all,” Budnyk said. “I am excited and proud that this legacy continues today. The team’s success is a testament to the hours of hard work, discipline, and perseverance Coach Daniels, the coaching staff, and players have given.”

Under the leadership of Head Coach Jack Daniels, the Crusaders completed a remarkable championship run while building upon a tradition generations in the making.

“This championship represents not only the hard work of Coach Daniels, his coaching staff, and this team, but also the generations of players and coaches who helped build this program,” said Ryan Partridge, Cardinal Newman’s Athletic Director. “Having Coach Budnyk there to share in this moment made the evening especially meaningful.”

The ceremony celebrated a remarkable 2025 season that culminated in a thrilling 17-14 victory over defending state champion Chaminade-Madonna, securing the first football state championship in Cardinal Newman history. More than marking a title, the gathering reflected the perseverance, discipline, and brotherhood that defined the team throughout its championship run while honoring the generations of players, coaches, and supporters who helped build the program.

For Budnyk, what has always made Cardinal Newman football special extends well beyond wins and losses.

“The bond developed among teammates and the transformation of 14- and 15-year-old boys into young men makes Newman football special,” he said. “The coaching staff teaches and models the values of faith, teamwork, resilience, and character, preparing the boys to believe in themselves and compete to the best of their ability on and off the field.”

For many in attendance, the championship rings represented the culmination of a historic season. For Budnyk, they also served as a reminder that the true legacy of Cardinal Newman football has always been measured not only in victories, but in the lives shaped along the way.