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Cardozo, McCray Among Best
Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH
"When I heard my name, I was shocked," Freedom High School senior Sarah Cardozo said.
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Published: May 20, 2008
Updated:
TAMPA - Freedom High School senior Sarah Cardozo was simply happy with her invitation to Monday night's Tampa Tribune Parade of Athletes banquet at the A La Carte Pavilion.
Just being there was enough.
Cardozo never dreamed she would claim the evening's biggest award.
"When I heard my name, I was shocked," Cardozo said. "My stomach just dropped. This has been a great senior year. Tonight was unexpected, but it makes it even greater."
Cardozo, one of Hillsborough County's most versatile athletes, was named Female Athlete of the Year.
Best-known for her successful transition from Freedom's leading goal scorer to goalkeeper in soccer, Cardozo also served as place-kicker on the boys football team. She ran the 330 hurdles in track and field and might've advanced in the postseason. But she missed the district meet because it coincided with flag football, where she was Freedom's quarterback and safety.
Hillsborough's Moses McCray, who was not present at Monday night's event, was named Male Athlete of the Year. McCray, who signed a football scholarship to Florida State, was a three-sport athlete (defensive lineman for the Terriers, in addition to a 24-2 wrestler and a track and field participant).
Meanwhile, Scott Ware, who guided Wharton to the Class 5A boys soccer state title, was named Male Sport Coach of the Year. Durant softball coach Matt Carter, whose Cougars advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals, claimed Female Sport Coach of the Year.
Both coaches were humbled by the recognition.
"This is about our players and the hard work they put in," Carter said. "I was fortunate to have a wonderful group."
"I'm just two years into coaching this team," Ware said. "We win the state title. Now they present an award like this, which I certainly didn't anticipate. I'm wondering if I should just retire right now."
Ware was joking.
He's not ready for it to be over.
Those are Cardozo's sentiments, too, but she realizes her time as a high-school athlete is done. She will attend FSU, mostly on the strength of her 4.7 grade-point average. She's considering walking on with FSU's soccer team, but her athletic pursuits never will be the same.
"Pretty much every day after school, I was practicing or playing something," Cardozo said. "That's my way of life. I'm not as busy right now, just getting ready for graduation May 28, but I know I'm going to miss it."
So will her parents, Manny and Shari.
"Dinner at 8 - or later," Manny said. "We got used to that. Sarah put a lot of work into athletics. She had a lot of fun, had a great attitude, and it was all worth it. For her to be recognized like this makes us feel so good."
Cardozo's parents remembered her playing an under-11 soccer game in Mandeville, La., when she made three consecutive difficult saves in goal. From that moment on, Cardozo's athletic pursuits were more about excellence than recreation.
"It made her happy," Cardozo's mother said. "And that made us happy. We will miss her participating in all these sports. But we've got some memories."
Some great memories.
Including the exclamation point on Monday night.
Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.
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