Cardinal Mooney golfers reflect on a successful trip competing in the World School Games in Scotland

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Members of the Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Golf Team recently returned from an historic journey, traveling more than 4,200 miles to be the first team to represent the United States in the World School Games in Scotland.

It was an opportunity that the players and coaches didn’t want to pass up.

“I think the biggest thing was learning the real valuable experience gained through this trip, and how much fun we had together and experiencing this together,” Cardinal Mooney junior golfer Shane Russell said after arriving back in Sarasota.

While in the UK, they were treated like celebrities. Reporters interviewed the athletes on the course, getting their thoughts on the experience and environment, and asking their strategies and reaction before and after a shot.

“Cougar-mania” was evident on the links in Scotland, and they provided a number of great hits.

One reporter caught up with sophomore Cardinal Mooney golfer Brooke Stevens, and asked her advice for up and coming young golfers.

“Just test the wind,” Stevens replied.

“Every shot test the wind, because it’s definitely the biggest factor out here,” she added.

The conditions weren’t as consistent as they tend to be on the Suncoast.

“The amount of wind we’re getting, back in Florida, this would be considered hurricane conditions, and we would not be playing,” Chase Adams told a reporter who asked his thoughts on the conditions during one of the days of competition.

They represented the United States, and the Suncoast, with professionalism and class - performing at a high level, yet remaining humble.

“It was very humbling,” junior Cardinal Mooney golfer Callahan Peloquin said.

“Now we know what to work on. We can come back next year, stronger, better as a team,” he added.

Yet out of the 88 golfers competing from all over the world on the boys side, Cougar golfers Shane Russell, Chase Adams and Callahan Peloquin all finished in the top 13.

And as for sophomore Cardinal Mooney golfer Brooke Stevens on the girls side, you could say she did pretty well.

“I didn’t shoot my best scores but I still think I played well for the conditions,” Stevens said.

“I’m happy I won,” she added.

Brooke Stevens, the Senior Girls Championship winner for 2026, made sure to leave room in her suitcase for her trophy, even if her bag ended up being over fifty pounds.

The magnitude of what this fab-four accomplished across the pond may have not fully sunk in just yet.

“On the golf course we didn’t really think about it that much,” Russell said.

“But after the round we debriefed a little, and realized how big of an accomplishment it was,” he added.

“We showed sportsmanship,” Peloquin said.

“We didn’t play our best, but we definitely gave the USA a good name,” he added.

They gave Cardinal Mooney and the Suncoast a great name right along with it.