The sixth annual The News-Press All-Area Stars banquet honors the best high school athletes in Lee and Collier counties.
The sixth annual The News-Press All-Area Stars banquet honors the best high school athletes in Lee and Collier counties.
The News-Press All-Area All Stars
The News-Press announced its Male and Female Athlete of the Year and its Jeff Sommer Memorial Coach of the Year at its All-Area Stars Awards Banquet held at Germain Arena Tuesday night. The Players of the Year for all 24 varsity high school sports were also announced.
The sixth annual The News-Press All-Area Stars banquet.
Here is a rundown of the winners:
The Female and Male Athlete of the Year and Jeff Sommer Memorial Coach of the Year award winners are:
Megan Galbreath, Diving, Cape Coral
Female Athlete of the Year: Megan Galbreath, Cape Coral High School
Megan took care of business on the diving board, winning district, regional and state titles in dominating fashion. But probably more impressive is what she did in the classroom and our community. Academically, she sported a 5.48 GPA, scored a 33 on the ACT and 2200 on the SAT while piling up honor roll and academic awards.
She’s been a leader in her school through student government, tutoring, and various clubs. She’s been a first-place delegate at numerous Model UN conferences. In the community she’s volunteered at area elementary and middle schools and to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Her career goal is to study pediatric oncology at Harvard University, which she will attend in the fall, and hopes to someday help find the cure for cancer.
.
.
.
Josh Kennedy, Cross Country, Fort Myers
Male Athlete of the Year: Josh Kennedy, Fort Myers High School
Kennedy won the LCAC cross country individual title and placed 18th in Class 3A in the fall and also won the county two-mile title in track.
The junior is an all-star in the classroom as well. He ranks first in his class, has a 5.04 GPA and scored a perfect 2400 on his SAT. He is only 1 of 2 students in the Lee County School District selected as a 2016 Sunshine State Scholar based on outstanding performance in math and science and came in first place nationally at the Mu Alpha Theta National convention. He’s president of the national honor society, regional coordinator of the Florida Student Association of Mathematics and is the winner of the 2016 Princeton Book Award among his many academic activities and accolades.
Outside of school, he’s volunteered in the summer as a tutor for remedial middle school math students seeking credit retrieval and volunteers for Special Olympics helping athletes in Track and Field. He also takes on great responsibility at home, helping his mother care for his younger brother, Josh, has Down syndrome.
Jeff Sommer Memorial Coach of the Year Award: Dwayne Donnell, Dunbar High School
On the court, Donnell led the Tigers to a 26-5 record and a State Final Four appearance, his team’s seventh such trip that includes one state title and four state runner-up finishes. Off the court, Donnell pushes his players to strive in academics, athletics, service and their relationships with his “Winning Is The Only Option” or W.I.T.O.O program philosophy and has made Dunbar girls basketball not just a school entity, but a community event.
Donnell takes home Jeff Sommer Coach of the Year award
First to be presented were the 24 Player of the Year Awards representing a winner in each varsity high school sport.
The Player of the Year award winners:
Football Offense: Carlin Fils-aime, Naples High School
Football Defense: Tyler Byrd, Naples High School
Girls Bowler of the Year: Kyndall Snyder, Island Coast High School
Boys Bowler of the Year: Tyler Altmann, Ida Baker High School
Girls Golfer of the Year: Brittany Shin, Ida Baker High School
Boys Golfer of the Year: Landon Weber, Fort Myers High School
Girls Swimmer of the Year: Kendall Brent, Fort Myers High School
Boys Swimmer of the Year: Santiago Corredor, Bishop Verot High School
Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year: Krissy Gear, Fort Myers High School
Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Evan Babatz, Fort Myers High School
Volleyball Player of the Year: Alayna Ryan, Fort Myers High School
Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Destanni Henderson, Fort Myers High School
Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Jacob Tracey, Riverdale High School
Girls Soccer Player of the Year: Taylor Hatch, Estero High School
Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Erick Rivera, Mariner High School
Wrestler of the Year: Mike Delago, Fort Myers High School
Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year: Arianna Endelmann, Estero High School
Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year: Joey Cerniglia, Bishop Verot High School
Girls Tennis Player of the Year: Emily Javedan, Canterbury School
Boys Tennis Player of the Year: John Carlin, Fort Myers High School
Girls Track Athlete of the Year: Krissy Gear, Fort Myers High School
Boys Track Athlete of the Year: Evan Babatz, Fort Myers High School
Softball Player of the Year: MacKenzie Peterson, North Fort Myers High School
Baseball Player of the Year: Michael Richey, Bishop Verot High School
For a complete look at all our All-Area teams, click HERE