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Guest speaker Jaylen Watkins speaks to student-athletes Saturday at the Breeze Newspapers Breakfast of Champions.
The Breeze Newspapers celebrated student-athletes from all over Cape Coral and the West Zone on Saturday with its fourth annual Breakfast of Champions held at Cape Vineyard Community Church.
“We’re committed to growing our Athlete of the Week program in the future because we realize the thrill that competition brings to fans and communities and the important lifelong lessons that sports provide to young people willing to learn them,” said Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode.
Cape Coral Breeze Editor Chris Strine added, “We had a great turnout for our fourth annual Breakfast of Champions Saturday. It was an honor and a privilege to recognize all of the student-athletes, coaches, teams, parents and supporters at the event. Our congratulations to all for their accomplishments during the 2024-25 school year.
“Our thanks, too, to Cape Vineyard for hosting the event and providing a great meal, and to all of the sponsors for our Athlete of the Week/Athlete of the Month program.”
This year’s guest speaker was former National Football League defensive specialist and Cape Coral High School graduate, Jaylen Watkins.
The now-member of the Seahawks’ football program coaching staff spoke to the student-athletes about his journey, hardships, and the path he navigated throughout his collegiate and professional career.
Watkins even showed off his Athlete of the Week award bestowed to him by The Breeze back in 2008.
The Breeze Team of the Year was awarded to the North Fort Myers softball team, which made it to the state final four and posted a record of 20-8 this season. The team outscored their opponents in a big way, with a plus 127-run differential when all was said and done. They were also stellar at home, posting a 12-2 record defending their turf. The Red Knights set a school record for home runs in a single season, and had nine players hit over .300 this season, with four posting a .400-plus batting average, and one player hitting .609 on the year — a school record.
Coach of the Year was bestowed to a long-time coach who achieved the 500-win milestone this past year, all with the same school, Mariner High School boys soccer coach, Martin Cardenas. He has won 15 district titles, including seven in a row. His teams were Regional Finalist eight times and appeared in two state final fours including a state runner-up. He has also coached football, baseball, tennis, golf, and bowling.
This year’s Male Athlete of the Year was Mariner’s senior wrestling state champ, Max Brady. The senior won four state championships, yes, four, in every year of competition at the high school level.
Most recently, Brady put together an undefeated season on the mat, and was the state championship wrestler at 138 pounds. He won his state title match in one minute. He ends his high school wrestling career with an incredible 185-5 record, and has committed to a school in his home state at Northern Iowa, to continue his work at a student-athlete.
It was North Fort Myers High School’s junior soccer standout Hannah Busenbark that was named Female Athlete of the Year. She set a school record for goals scored with a whopping 57 in 23 games played.
She was named to the Class 5A player of the year by the Florida Dairy Farmers, named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Regional Team, was her team’s Most Valuable Player, Team’s Offensive Player of the Year, and of course, wore the captain’s armband. Busenbark’s 57 goals was ranked 9th in the nation, third in the state of Florida, and first in all of class 5A.
Mariner High School’s Gabi Winters was voted Reader’s Choice Athlete of the Year. This year’s vote came down to only three ballots separating first and second place.
A sophomore on the Tritons’ softball team, Winters posted a 1.67 ERA in 23 appearances over 142.2 innings. She struck out a staggering 287 batters and tossed a no hitter.
Her 287 Ks were 4th most in the state and 52nd nationally. She also batted .422 with 34 RBI and posted a .462 on base percentage.
Torched Bar & Grill is the title sponsor of the Breeze Athlete of the Week program. Supporting sponsors include Zak’s Jewelry, Gavin’s Hardware, Salad King, SP Designs and Cape Vineyard Church.
For more coverage, see related photo gallery, Athlete of the Week Year in Review, on this website.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
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