Sayville High School Students Receive Butch Dellecave Awards

Two Sayville High School students have been recognized as Suffolk County’s top scholar-athletes, making history as the first male and female recipients of the prestigious Butch Dellecave Awards to come from the same school in the same year.

Graduating seniors Sophia Buffardi and Patrick Coan were honored at the 26th annual Butch Dellecave Awards brunch on June 7. The annual awards recognize Suffolk County’s most accomplished senior student-athletes for their achievements in academics, athletics, leadership, and community service.

“Sophia and Patrick represent everything we hope to see in our student-athletes. Their dedication in the classroom, commitment to their teams, and service to the community have made a lasting impact on Sayville High School,” Dr. Ryan Cox, Director of Physical Education, Health, and Interscholastic Athletics, said. “To have both the male and female recipients of this prestigious countywide honor come from Sayville in the same year is an extraordinary achievement, and we could not be prouder of the example they have set for their peers and future generations of Golden Flashes.”

Buffardi has distinguished herself as a dedicated student, athlete, and mentor throughout her time at Sayville High School. A three-sport athlete in lacrosse, soccer and winter track and field, she balanced a demanding academic schedule while maintaining a weighted GPA above 102. She has also devoted countless hours to supporting younger athletes through coaching opportunities and youth programs.

She played a pivotal role in Sayville’s first New York State girls lacrosse championship in 2024, scoring five goals in the Class C state title game, and she contributed to the most recent Long Island Championship win. She also scored the decisive goal in Sayville’s first Long Island girls soccer championship victory in November. She will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of North Carolina on a full lacrosse scholarship.

Coan earned recognition for his leadership, sportsmanship and commitment to both academics, and athletics. A standout member of Sayville’s football and baseball programs, his efforts helped lead the Golden Flashes football team to back-to-back Suffolk Division III championships and a Long Island Class III title in 2025. He was also named the recipient of the Boomer Esiason Award, presented annually to Suffolk County’s top quarterback.

He maintained a weighted GPA of 96 while serving as a role model for younger students through community involvement and youth sports programs. He will continue his education and football career at Lehigh University, where he plans to study business finance.

“This extraordinary recognition speaks not only to the talents of Sophia and Patrick, but also to the culture of excellence that exists throughout Sayville Public Schools,” Dr. Marc Ferris, Superintendent of Schools, said. “They have embraced every opportunity to grow as students, athletes, leaders, and community members, and their success is richly deserved. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to all they will achieve in the future.”

As recipients of the Butch Dellecave Awards, Buffardi and Coan will each receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their college education. The award is named in honor of Butch Dellecave, a longtime educator in the Connetquot Central School District, respected basketball official and founding member of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.

For more information on the Sayville Union Free School District, visit the district’s website at sayvilleschools.org. Happenings in the district can also be found on the district’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saydistrictpr. #CaringAndLearning