Historic First: Sayville High School Claims Both 2026 Butch Dellecave Awards

HOLBROOK, NY — Sayville High School seniors Sophia Buffardi and Patrick Coan were named the 2026 recipients of the prestigious Butch Dellecave Award, honoring Suffolk County’s top female and male scholar-athletes.

The awards were presented Sunday, June 7, during the 26th annual Butch Dellecave Awards breakfast at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. This year marked the first time both Dellecave Award winners represented the same school.

Buffardi and Coan were selected from among outstanding student-athletes representing every high school across Suffolk County. The annual awards recognize excellence not only in athletics, but also in academics, leadership, community service and character.

Buffardi, a standout lacrosse, soccer, and track athlete, has earned a 102.71 GPA while taking several Advanced Placement courses and is a member of the National Honor Society. A two-time Newsday All-Long Island first team selection, she helped lead Sayville to the 2024 Class C girls lacrosse state championship, scoring five goals in the state title game. She also scored the winning goal in Sayville’s first Long Island girls soccer championship win in November.

Buffardi has also given back to the community by coaching in youth programs, camps, and clinics, and providing individual instruction to young lacrosse players. She has earned a full athletic scholarship to play lacrosse at the University of North Carolina.

Coan, Sayville’s standout quarterback and centerfielder, helped lead the football team to two Suffolk Division III titles and a Long Island Class III championship. Over the past two seasons, he amassed 4,214 passing yards and 54 touchdowns, along with 1,485 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He also received the Boomer Esiason Award, presented to Suffolk’s top quarterback.

Coan, who holds a 96 GPA, will continue his football career at Lehigh University, where he plans to major in business finance. He has also coached young quarterbacks at youth summer camps and volunteered with Inclusive Sports and Fitness, a local nonprofit that helps children with special needs participate in sports.

“The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk is proud to sponsor the Butch Dellecave Awards in collaboration with the Butch Dellecave Foundation and Newsday,” said Adrian Fassett, CEO of the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. “Sophia Buffardi and Patrick Coan represent the very best of Suffolk County’s student-athletes. They have excelled on the field, in the classroom, and in service to others, and we are honored to help recognize their achievements.”

The award is named in honor of Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, a highly respected educator, coach and athletic leader who served in the Connetquot School District for 30 years. Dellecave was also a highly regarded high school basketball official and one of the founding members of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.

Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Dellecave family foundation toward their education.

About the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.
The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. is a not-for-profit community action agency dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve greater self-sufficiency through programs and services that address education, employment, youth development, health, housing, nutrition, and family support.

About the Butch Dellecave Foundation
The Butch Dellecave Foundation was established to honor the legacy of Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave and his lifelong commitment to athletics, education, leadership and community service. The Foundation helps recognize outstanding Suffolk County student-athletes who reflect those values.