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NEWS > WEST CATHOLIC FOOTBALL TEAM HONORED AS A SPORTS FAITH INTERNATIONAL “TEAM OF THE YEAR”
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West Catholic Football Team Honored as a Sports Faith International “Team of the Year”
On Wednesday, May 19, Patrick McCaskey, co-owner of the Chicago Bears and Chairman of Sports Faith International, presented The Sports Faith International Hometown Heroes Award to the West Catholic football team under the category “Team of the Year” for their excellence and exemplary achievements in sports, education and faith example.
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The purpose of the Sports Faith International annual contest is to encourage athletes to “let their light shine before men, so that they may see their good works, and give thanks to the Father in Heaven.” Without in any way diminishing the importance of this award, the first place award for the “Team of the Year” was actually given out in February in Chicago. But the West Catholic Varsity Football team was so close to being selected first that SFI wanted to recognize them because of their extraordinary accomplishments and faith example.
On May 19, Patrick McCaskey addressed the West Catholic football players on the topic of sports and faith; touching upon his growing up in sports, his family, his involvement with the Bears, and the impact and importance of faith in life and work.
West Catholic’s football team was specifically noted for its academic and service achievements this year, in addition to its second straight OK Blue Conference Championship. The team received Academic All State Honorable Mention honors for ranking 12th in Division 4 based on team grade point average. The team also logged over 3000 service hours last summer, before the football season even began, working for the school and at youth camps.
One highlight for the team prior to the season was a two-day work retreat in July for team members, their fathers, and the coaches. They traveled to St. Michaels’ Parish in Brunswick. The participants scraped and painted the entire parish hall and also spruced up the parish grounds and play structures. The students reflected on the value of teamwork and commitment to others. The retreat concluded on Sunday with a Mass celebrated by the parish priest.
According to Coach Dan Rohn, “The 2009 WC Football program made a commitment to giving back to our community by providing opportunities for our players, coaches, and parents to get involved with a number of service projects throughout the year. We want our players to understand that being a student athlete at West Catholic goes beyond what we do on the game field. We want to develop and enrich our players completely, in their faith, commitment, and dedication.”
Sports Faith International is a Chicago-based initiative dedicated to inspiring and transforming our culture through the world of sports. It utilizes the best of new and traditional media to feature and encourage the powerful personal testimonies of outstanding athletes at all levels, who are living out their faith on and off the field. The vision of Sports Faith International is inspired by Pope John Paul II, who was known as “the athlete’s Pope,” called for the aggressive use of the media to promote the faith, and encouraged the utilization of sports as a powerful instrument to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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