Every year, Lee County high schools nominate male and female student-athletes that have exceled both in the classroom and their respective sports for the annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet.
Here are the 42 nominees for the 38th annual banquet that will be held on Monday, May 13 at Bell Tower DoubleTree , where $5,000 will be awarded to the top overall male and female athletes. $1,500 will be awarded to 12 additional student-athletes for the Service Above Self Award, for a total of $28,000 in scholarships given to local seniors.
Leroy Roker III
School: Bishop Verot
College: Ohio State (football)
GPA: 3.27
Roker has tallied 11 varsity letters since freshman year across football, basketball, lacrosse, and track & field. The future Buckeye safety made first team All-Area defense as a senior and was a finalist for player of the year. On the court, the four-year letterman crossed the 1,000 point threshold as a three-time All-Area first teamer, all while recording 400 hours of community service.
Marissa Peck
School: Bishop Verot
College: Spring Hill College
GPA: 3.96
Peck is a four-year letter winner for both indoor and beach volleyball at Bishop Verot. The three-time All-Area second teamer led the Vikings' beach volleyball team to two district and regional titles, and was named to the FACA District indoor all-senior team. The two-time captain will graduate Cum Laude, and volunteered at the Fort Myers Women's Community Club, St. Andrew's Middle School, and Special Populations. She'll play collegiate volleyball at Spring Hill College.
Jack Patricca
School: Bonita Springs
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.80
Patricca is multi-sport standout for the Bull Sharks, earning two letters each in football, weightlifting, and wrestling along with one year of varsity track & field. He was played in the Rotary South All-Star Classic, and helped coach Bonita Spring's girls flag football as an assistant student coach. Patricca will graduate Summa Cum Laude, and helped the area recover from Hurricane Ian by participating in clean-ups around the area.
Addison Piotrowski
School: Bonita Springs
College: Franklin College
GPA: 3.49
Piotrowski will graduate Summa Cum Laude with four years of varsity track, three years of varsity volleyball, one year of varsity soccer, and one year of varsity beach volleyball under her belt. She participated in student government and FGCU collegiate, and will study data science while playing collegiate volleyball at Franklin College.
Will Hall
School: Canterbury
College: Boston College
GPA: 4.0
Hall is a four-year soccer letterman, and also played football for two years and golf for one year. He spent his junior and senior year as a member of the Spanish, science, history, english, and math honor societies, and is an AP Scholar of Distinction. Hall volunteered heavily with children, spending time as an elementary school tutor with Canterbury's extended day program, and the Reading Coalition of Southwest Florida's reading buddy program.
Addison Piatt
School: Canterbury
College: Earlham College
GPA: 4.21
Piatt led the Cougars to back-to-back indoor volleyball district titles during her four years on the team, earning an All-Area second team nod in her senior campaign. She also lettered in beach volleyball three times, and was a captain in her final year. Piatt is a three-year member of the National Honor Society and the Student Council while tallying over 200 hours of community service. She'll continue her volleyball career at Earlham College.
Maddox Howerton
School: Cape Coral
College: FAU
GPA: 4.0
Howerton was a two-way player for the Seahawks' football team, playing varsity for all four years while captaining for two years. He also was a captain for one of his three years of varsity basketball. Howerton was a member of the IB program and earned an AP Scholar award while serving as a camp counselor for three years.
Melissa Blaine
School: Cape Coral
College: Ohio
GPA: 4.0
Blaine graduates as one of the most decorated Seahawks in school history. She is a four-time district champion, four-time LCAC champion, four-time regional champion, and earned a top-5 finish in states nine times – including a first place finish her sophomore year and three-straight years of top-3 finishes in the 200 medley and 400 free relay. Blaine holds four different school records and qualified for the USA Swimming 18u Cup, all while maintaining an unweighted 4.0 in dual enrollment, volunteering at Swim Florida, and a senior residential memory center. She'll continue her swimming career at Ohio University.
Griffin Myers
School: Cypress Lake
College: Florida Atlantic
GPA: 3.75
Myers played two years of baseball and football for the Panthers, along with a year of lacrosse as a captain. He's heavily involved on campus as a member of the Model UN, National Honor Society, and the Panther Pack Spirit Club. Myers contributed to Hurricane Ian recovery, along with three mission trips to Leesburg, Chattanooga, and Savannah.
Lindsey Shimko
School: Cypress Lake
College: South Florida
GPA: 3.86
Shimko spent all four years at Cypress Lake as a soccer player and cheerleader. The two-time captain earned an All-Area honorable mention, and won Cypress Lake's Scholar Athlete Award as a sophomore while making the A-B Honor Roll for all four years. The National Honor Society member volunteered at Golisano Children's Hospital and the Special Olympics.
Tawaski Abrams Jr.
School: Dunbar
College: Florida
GPA: 3.70
Abrams Jr., an All-Area first-team and offensive player of the year finalist, is a four-year football letterman with three-years of track & field experience under his belt, all while taking IB, AP, AICE, and dual enrollment courses. Abrams Jr. is an early enrollee at Florida, where he will continue his football career.
Kayla Hopkins
School: Dunbar
College: Florida Atlantic
GPA: 3.89
Hopkins has four varsity track & field letters, and will continue her athletic career at Florida Atlantic while studying sports psychology. The three-time LCAC champion is a member of the JROTC program and was enrolled in IB courses while winning an Al Oerter Red Ribbon Award. She remained engaged on campus, participating in the canned food drive, the school garden, the Dunbar Diamonds, and powderpuff football.
Jamil Thompson
School: East Lee County
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.65
Thompson, a four-time A-B Honor Roll Student, graduates with basketball, baseball, cross country, and track & field letters. He'll graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Jaguar Scholar Athlete award.
Kimberly Chou
School: East Lee County
College: Florida International
GPA: 3.91
Chou is a dual-sport standout at East Lee, with four letters in both softball and cross country. She's a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Sports Medicine club, National Honor Society, and JROTC, all while tallying 130 hours of community service.
Talon Magner
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Florida State
GPA: 3.98
Magner is a four-year letterman in soccer, and also played two years of varsity golf. He was a member of the National Honor Society for three years, and was a Sentinel Scholar Athlete for three years while winning the MAA's American Mathematics Competition as a senior. He'll graduate with over 200 hours of community service completed.
Zaira Mitchell
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Rollins College
GPA: 4.0
Mitchell holds four letters in both basketball and track & field. She leaves ECS as a 1,000-point scorer and the school's all-time leader in assists, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 and tallying 154 hours of community service. She'll continue her athletic career at Rollins College while studying engineering.
Nathan Somers
School: Estero
College: Savannah College of Art & Design
GPA: 4.91
Somers is a decorated swimmer for the Wildcats. He holds the school record in the 200- and 400-free, and made an appearance at the State Championships throughout all four years of high school. He graduates with 12 golds across LCAC and district competition, and consistently earned top-10 finishes in regional and state meets. All this while earning an AICE diploma and spending three years in the National Honor Society.
Lily Drons
School: Estero
College: Lynn University
GPA: 3.71
Drons has four letters of varsity swim under her belt, and was a two-time All-Area first teamer and All-Region selection. She earned a berth in the State Championship meet for all four years of her prep career, and both silver and bronze in regional meets after dominating LCAC and district action. She'll continue her swimming career at Lynn University.
Joseph Koraya
School: Fort Myers
College: Embry Riddle
GPA: 3.71
Koraya has 12 letters across four years of track & field, cross country, and soccer. He graduates with golds in regional and district cross country, with two top-10 finishes as states, while also earning three top-3 finishes in state track & field with a district gold. Koraya is an AP Scholar with Distinction, and volunteered at local races in his free time.
Caslynn Crisman
School: Fort Myers
College: Barry University
GPA: 3.90
Crisman earned letters in soccer, lacrosse, and track & field. She was a two-time captain for her soccer team, and led the Green Wave to two district titles while being voted the Class 6A player of the year. She made Florida Southwestern Dean's List in both her years taking dual-enrollment, and volunteered nearly 200 hours of her time to community service. She'll continue her athletic career at Barry University.
Antoine Loriston Jr.
School: Gateway Charter
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.08
Loriston Jr. is a four-year letterman for the Griffins' football team, where he earned most improved honors and was a team captain. He also served as a basketball team manager and teacher's assistant on campus.
Maria Alvarez
School: Gateway Charter
College: Florida SouthWestern
GPA: 3.6
Alvarez was a two-sport standout at Gateway Charter, where she played both basketball and volleyball. She was named Griffin volleyball's most valuable player, and basketball's most improved player. Alvarez earned a Cambridge diploma while also taking dual-enrollment, and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Chacour Thomas
School: Gateway
College: Florida International
GPA: 3.50
Thomas played football, soccer, and track & field for the Eagles. He was an elite on special teams, and holds program records for most punts inside the 20-yard line, longest field goal, and longest punt. He was a four-year captain for track & field, and earned a regional bid three times. Thomas took dual-enrollment at both FGCU and FSW, and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the Cambridge program. He'll graduate Summa Cum Laude, and continue his track & field career at Florida International while studying biomedical engineering.
Lucy Engler
School: Gateway
College: Florida Atlantic
GPA: 3.85
Engler competed in both indoor and beach volleyball for the Eagles, as well as basketball. She was two-time captain for both volleyball programs and earned indoor's team MVP twice as well as basketball's sixth woman of the year once. All while earning her AICE diploma, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and volunteering at Skyline Elementary.
Jackson Olmstead
School: Ida Baker
College: Florida
GPA: 3.93
Olmstead graduates with four letters in track & field, three in cross country, and two in soccer. He served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council while also captaining for both cross country and track & field, and spent two years in the National Honor Society. Olmstead tallied over 330 hours as a volunteer for USA Patriots.
Saige Thibodeaux
School: Ida Baker
College: Kutztown University
GPA: 3.99
Thibodeaux leaves Ida Baker with 11 varsity letters across five different sports, most notably four from volleyball and two weightlifting. She was the Bulldogs' first female lifter to ever make states, and was the volleyball program's MVP twice. Thibodeaux was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Counsel, the STEM program, and Rho Kappa. She'll go on to Kutztown University, studying sports management while continuing her volleyball career.
Kyle Freire
School: Island Coast
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.68
Freire earned letters in football, weightlifting, and track & field. He was an Honor Roll student and captain for the Gator's football team, and played in the Rotary South All-Star Classic. Freire volunteered at a local church extensively after hurricane Ian, helping with cleanup and organizing food donations to those effected.
Ava DeAngelo
School: Island Coast
College: Florida State
GPA: 3.98
DeAngelo won two letters in both weightlifting and track & field, and was a three-time team MVP for the Gator's varsity cheerleading squad. She was on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for both Island Coast and the LCAC, and never fell out of the Honor for all four years of high school. She'll study pre-nursing at FSU in hopes of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse while planning to continue cheerleading for the Seminoles.
Angel Pagan Jr.
School: Lehigh
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.66
Pagan Jr. was a standout guard for the Lightning, and won three letters for the varsity basketball team while also lettering in track & field and swimming three times each. He was Lehigh's basketball MVP last season, volunteered at youth basketball tournaments, and contributed to Hurricane Ian disaster recovery.
Gianna Del Pizzo
School: Lehigh
College : Central Florida
GPA: 3.85
Del Pizzo graduates with four letters in both track & field and cross country. She is a three-time LCAC champion, one time district and regional champion, and was both team MVP and an All-Area first teamer for all four years of high school. Del Pizzo is an Honor Roll student and Scholar Athlete, and volunteered at Meals of Hope and the Harry Chapin food bank. She'll marketing at UCF while continuing her athletic career for the Knights.
Kelvin Jimenez
School: Mariner
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.98
A true multi-sport star, Jimenez won three letters each in football, basketball, and weightlifting. He led the Tritons to a regional title in his senior campaign as a captain, and captained the football team as well. The AP Scholar Award recipient served as a buddy in Unified Sports and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Ryleigh Acosta
School: Mariner
College: Florida
GPA: 4.4
Acosta, a Gator soccer signee, was named a Gatorade Player of the Year, Class-5A Dairy Farmer Player of the Year, two-time News-Press Soccer Player of the Year, and a finalist for Miss Florida. The National Honor Society member will graduate Summa Cum Laude, and volunteered with special needs athletes and the Hope Food Drive.
Frank Cornelison
School: North Fort Myers
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.2
Cornelison is a three-year wrestling letterman, and earned runner-up in both districts and regionals while placing seventh at states. He was named Mr. Red Knight, is an A-B Honor Roll student, and is a Scholastic Duals All-American. He won the Al Oerter Award, and volunteered at local soup kitchens, churches, and wrestling tournaments.
Evie McCarthy
School: North Fort Myers
College: Arizona
GPA: 3.71
McCarthy is an accomplished soccer player, where she earned four letters and a scholarship to play at Arizona. She is a three-time finalist for the News-Press Soccer Player of the Year, and made All-Region and All-Area every year she competed. She also won letters in cross country and track, all while taking dual-enrollment, making A Honor Roll as a junior and senior, and volunteering at the Cape Coral Soccer Association.
Tyler Feichthaler
School: Oasis
College: Georgetown
GPA: 4.0
Feichthaler is a leader on campus, lettering and captaining for both golf and tennis for all four years while winning the I Am Sport award in 2021. He founded both the school's National Math Honor Society and the men's choir, was president and first-ever student composer for Oasis' choir, served as a councilman on Cape Coral's Youth Council, and president for both the National Honors English Society and Key Club for all four years. He'll study international relations and environmental studies at Georgetown.
Hunter Sheldon
School: Oasis
College: Florida Gulf Coast
GPA: 3.96
Sheldon spent two years competing in both cross country and track & field while serving as the Sharks' cross captain as a senior. She led Oasis to a cross country district title in her junior year, and lettered in both cheerleading and diving as a freshman. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteered extensively both at local churches and the Naples Zoo.
Konnor Byrus-VonHagen
School: Riverdale
College: Central Florida
GPA: 3.34
Byrus-VonHagen played three years of varsity baseball and basketball, while also lettering in football twice. He was captained for the Raider's basketball team every year he played, and was a baseball captain in his senior campaign. He served on the Raider Round Table, was a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteered at the Tommy Watkins Foundation.
Delana Osnac
School: Riverdale
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.79
Osnac spent four years competing in track & field and basketball, while lettering for cross country three times. She also played flag football for the Raiders, which made a deep postseason run in its inaugural year. She was part of the IB Mentor Program, and was a member of the National French Honor Society. Osnac won second place at the World Language Fair, and volunteered at ArtFest and as an assistant to the Athletic Trainer.
Eli Moore
School: Southwest Florida Christian Academy
College: Faulkner University
GPA: 4.0
Moore led SFCA in baseball and football, where he won four letters in each sport. On the field, he made an All-Area team in every year that he competed and was a captain as a junior and a senior. In the diamond, he earned an All-Area nod as a sophomore and captained as a senior. He maintained a perfect 4.0 while in the Student Leadership Academy, coaching elementary school sports, and taking AP courses. He will continue his football career at Faulkner, where he will study Sports Management.
Grace Coggins
School: Southwest Florida Christian Academy
College: Southeastern University
GPA: 4.0
Coggins lettered in volleyball, soccer, and track & field for every year of her high school career. She was a two-time podium medalist at track & field states, and earned an All-Area first team selection as a junior. Coggins served as track & field captain for three years and, soccer for two years, and volleyball for one year. She was on the Student Advisory Council, worked as yearbook editor, school photographer, and powerpuff volleyball captain for four years each. Coggins will run track & field at Southeastern.
Lazaro Rodriguez-Lopez
School: South Fort Myers
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.57
Rodriguez-Lopez was a four-year letterman in basketball, and three-year letterman in baseball. He was captain of the Wolfpack's basketball team for three years, and captained cross country in his one year on the team. He served in the Buddy Program, TV Production, and yearbook while taking dual-enrollment courses as a senior, all while staying on the A-B Honor Roll every year.
Yabdielys Meija Marzan
School: South Fort Myers
College: Florida
GPA: 3.8
Meija Marzan won four letters for the varsity swim team, where she had the team's highest GPA as a junior and senior. She took dual-enrollment courses, founded and is president of South Fort Myer's Women in STEM chapter, and was a member of JROTC for four years as well as the Gay-Straight Alliance as a senior. She won the FGCU Emerging Leader, and was on the A Honor Roll for three years. Meija Marzan will study biochemistry at Florida before advancing to medical school.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Meet the 42 student-athletes of the 38th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Banquet
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