The 14 Collier County seniors selected as 2025 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award finalists
Ed ReedThe Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation has honored Collier County high school student-athletes for the past 35 years, emphasizing the student and the athlete in each finalist. The 2025 class is no different.
Graduating seniors from Collier County high schools are eligible for the award, which was first given in 1990 by the Collier Athletic Club. Fourteen county high schools nominated a representative to put before the Winged Foot selection committee. Each candidate completed an extensive application process and was interviewed by the committee before a winner was chosen.
The winner will be named at Collier County's 36th Annual Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award Banquet on May 15 at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburón Resort. A silent auction and cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m. with the banquet starting at 7 p.m.
The Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Foundation will give $5,000 to each of the finalists. The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship – $2,500 a year for four years. The other finalists receive one-time stipends.
St. John Neumann basketball standout Sophia McCartney, who signed to play at Army, became the third Celtic to win the honor last year.
Here are the 14 finalists for 2025, including highlights from their resumes, quotes from their interview with the committee, and a snippet from their letters of recommendation.
Abigail Peterson
School: Aubrey Rogers
Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Swimming, Track
Highlights: Peters, who will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy, is ranked third in her class of 265 with a 5.7088 GPA. She earned five varsity letters her senior year. She's a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, was the president of DECA, qualified for the DECA CDC state competition, and was on the Collier County superintendent student advisory committee. She's also a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Academic World Quest, and student government vice president. She won the Aspirations in Computing Award from the National Center for Women in Technology.
Peterson discusses attending Aubrey Rogers: "It was great for me. I got to learn meet a whole bunch of different people, and put my hand in everything, because with a new school, there's not many students you're allowed to do a lot like at other schools, you might be limited to one or two sports, but thankfully, the teachers and the staff were very accommodating and let me do a lot."
From the letter of recommendation: "Abigail brings a motivated personality, desire to take on new challenges, and a sense of leadership to both classroom and practice that is both uplifting and unique. She always demonstrated this quality in the classroom, but last spring she asked me if I would help her train for the service academies' physical fitness tests. A swimmer by trade, she didn't have much experience in running, but she spent all spring and summer sticking to the training regimen I provided her, and the amount she has improved over the past several months is quite noticeable. She was a varsity letter earner in cross country this year, and also holds the current school record for girls' shot put. She is, without a doubt, one of the best all-around student athletes I have had the privilege of teaching and coaching.
― Frederic Mason Laderer, cross country coach
Cloelle Altaratz
School: Barron Collier
Sports: Track and Field, Weightlifting
Highlights: Altaratz has been one of the area's top discus throwers and finished seventh at state the last two seasons. In weightlifting, she's been a county, district, and regional champion and has won third- and fourth-place state medals. When not competing, she's in the National Honor Society, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, won the Chemistry Honor Award, and volunteered in the NCH summer program. Altaratz has a 5.26 weighted GPA and will attend Florida State.
Altaratz on an accomplishment she's proud of: "My sports are kind of different in that they consist of very complicated movements that happen sub-second. So in order for me to improve, I kind of have to focus on these micro individual parts in order to actually make progress. And that's kind of different than a team sport. I have to have a lot of fastidiousness and discipline to be able to improve my sport. I also believe that there's a certain nuance when it comes to my sports, and that there's both individual and team components. On one hand, me and my teams have had success on a collective level, but most of my achievements are on the individual level. But on the other hand, having that team component, my teams have helped me. Have had been a huge reason for my success, and they have helped me to improve."
From the letter of recommendation: "Cloelle's dedication extends far beyond personal achievement. She is deeply committed to making a positive impact in her community. From volunteering for organizations like Meals of Hope, Toys for Tots, Laces of Love, and Hope for Haiti, to supporting local elementary schools, sporting events, and Naples Community Hospital's Summer Volunteen Program in 2024, Cloelle has shown an unwavering commitment to service. Her ability to balance these responsibilities with her academic and athletic commitments is truly remarkable."
― Melissa Jackson, girls weightlifting and track and field coach
Cal Wyatt
School: Community School of Naples
Sports: Lacrosse, Football
Highlights: Wyatt, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania to play lacrosse, was a USA Lacrosse All-American and the Southwest Florida Lacrosse Player of the Year as a junior. He was the football team captain as a junior and senior, and lacrosse captain his senior year, in which he scored 49 goals and 12 assists through April 29. Academically, he has a 4.29 weighted GPA and is a member of the National English Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, and was an AP Scholar with Distinction and earned his AP Capstone Diploma as a junior. He was the student government vice president as a senior and a Youth Frontiers Retreat volunteer.
Wyatt on his leadership style: "I'm more of a kind of lead by example. I don't like to be super vocal. I'll usually just try to do the right thing. Maybe like, I'm more of like a one-on-one will help someone, but like talking to a big group and being that way isn't what I'm best at I would say. But you know, leading more by example, just following like what my coaches say, what my teachers say, and you know, help trying to get others to do that as well."
From the letter of recommendation: "Sometimes, I see student-athletes for which the athletics comes at the cost of academics, or vice versa. That is expected. Students only have so many hours in the day. Through a purely rational, mathematical lens, if a student spends two hours every day practicing for varsity swimming, that is two hours that they might not be studying for my AP Economics exam the next day. These are the realities of high school. For most students, this dilemma is zero-sum, but for Cal, the academics and the lacrosse are undoubtedly synergistic."
― Craig Schwerin, AP Art History, AP European History, & AP Economics Teacher
Geniva Collins
School: Everglades City
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Softball
Highlights: Collins will be attending South Florida and majoring in math. She participated in Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Youth Leadership Council, was an Incubate Debate competitor, a Student Government member, and Collier County Superintendent Student Advisory Council member. She won the Everglades City School Citizenship Award and was in the Youth Leadership Collier Class of 2024. She is the first student from Everglades to graduate with an associate's degree from Florida SouthWestern. She was the basketball, volleyball, and softball captain her senior year.
Collins on her biggest personal achievement: "Honestly, I would say, trying to balance everything at once. I mean, it's FSW, trying to get my associate's degree. Running back for sports, student government president, having to go over there on those days. And by the grace of God, I've been able to make it work. And I just love it. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, filling my schedule like that, but I love it. I can't imagine having less of anything."
From the letter of recommendation: "Gena is the true definition of an academic-athlete. Gena has always put academics on a pedestal. She took homework seriously and took pride in her schoolwork. Gena is self-driven and insists on doing quality work, was inquisitive, asked questions, and was never afraid to challenge information she read or heard."
― Rebecca Welch, Basketball and volleyball coach
Zara Stewart
School: First Baptist Academy
Sports: Basketball, Track, Volleyball
Highlights: Stewart, who has been playing varsity volleyball since sixth grade, will be heading to San Diego State to play volleyball. She's a three-time FBA Female Athlete of the Year who scored 1,288 career points in basketball and had 1,231 career kills and 1,927 career digs in volleyball. She's involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteers at Little Spikers Volleyball Club, Love Naples Community Outreach, First Naples Church Beacons basketball, and is a camp counselor at For The Love Basketball.
Stewart on leading and inspiring younger athletes: "Letting them develop on their characters, but also teaching them like, sports isn't just about the sport, you know, like, you need to have good relationships with people. It's about loyalty, commitment, you know, like growing confidence in yourself, your identity, not identity in sports, obviously, in Christ, but also just having relationships with others, because that's how you grow, that's how you make an impact. And that's why I feel like I want to pass on how people impacted me, I'd like to leave that here with others."
From the letter of recommendation: "What truly sets Zara apart, however, is not merely her athletic prowess but her exceptional character and leadership qualities. She leads not through words alone but through consistent action, setting a standard of excellence in practices and competitions that inspires her teammates to reach higher. Her ability to encourage others while maintaining her own high standards has transformed our team dynamics andcontributed significantly to our success, including (volleyball) making it to the State Finals this year."
― Marci Walker, volleyball coach and physical education teacher
Ciara McCloskey
School: Gulf Coast
Sports: Cross Country, Lacrosse, Track
Highlights: She has a 5.2 weighted GPA and plans on majoring in computer science in college. She's involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Government, Model UN, Student Athletics Leadership Team (SALT), and National Honor Society. McCloskey is a National Center for Women and Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Southwest Florida Affiliate Winner, an AP Scholar with Distinction, she founded the Underclassmen Honors Society, and is Mindset Matters president. She's a two-time school cross-country MVP, All-Area First-Team runner, and placed 47th at state as a senior, and is a four-year lacrosse letter winner.
McCloskey on her leadership style: "This year, I am very happy. I'm both the track and field and lacrosse captain, but throughout the years, I thought that leadership kind of comes from that infectious positivity, like having the personality or the kind of vibe that people can come up to you and be like, 'Hey, I'm struggling', or 'Hey, I need help.' I felt like that was kind of a true leader. So that's the kind of attitude I try to emphasize within sports, especially with cross country and track, such an individual mental sport, I really try to be positive and, like, uplifting my teammates."
From the letter of recommendation: "Ciara's involvement in Gulf Coast High School's activities is truly remarkable. Her contributions to the Student-Athlete Leadership Team, Mindset Matters, Model UN, and Student Government, among others, demonstrate a commitment to both personal excellence and school involvement. She doesn't just participate; she actively seeks leadership roles and consistently makes significant contributions to the success of each organization. On the lacrosse field, Clara's athleticism is undeniable. Her unwavering dedication and "will-do" attitude are inspiring. She consistently plays to her very best, regardless of the opponent's strength, demonstrating a commitment to both individual improvement and team success. Her proactive approach - often seen working on her skills before practices - highlights her work ethic and determination."
― Lynn Garrison, lacrosse coach
Uriel Sanchez
School: Golden Gate
Sports: Cross country, Swimming, Track and Field
Highlights: Sanchez was captain for the cross country, swimming, and track teams. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is ranked sixth in his class with a 5.03 weighted GPA. He's a member of the Engineering Club, the debate team, and a volunteer at Meals of Hope through Champions For Learning. He plans to attend Florida State to pursue computer science.
Sanchez on what motivates him to be successful: "I think it's mostly the fact that I come from an immigrant family, and it's just what motivates me and my friends. My mom, she comes from Cuba, and, you know, things are hard over there. I actually went there last year, and I saw how horrible it was over there. So it kind of motivates me every day to just try new things."
From the letter of recommendation: "I have witnessed a unique blend of qualities in Uriel ― traits that are rare to find collectively in a high school student. As a student, Uriel consistently demonstrates an impressive attention to detail and a genuine passion for learning. He sets high standards for himself and accepts nothing less than excellence. The AICE Spanish curriculum is known for its rigor, yet Uriel not only embraces the challenge but thrives in it. Uriel's accomplishments go beyond academics. He is consistently respectful to everyone he encounters, embodying humility and integrity. His leadership abilities are equally remarkable, which is why he has been named our track team captain this season. He leads by example, inspiring his peers through his work ethic and positive attitude."
― Pamela Pierre, World Language Department chair and cross country and track coach
Yeneisi Calihua-Panzo
School: Immokalee
Sports: Cross Country, Lacrosse
Highlights: A dual enrollment student who made Florida SouthWestern's Dean's List who participated in Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity and Excellence (SSTRIDE), she was a member of the National Honor Society, and received the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award, National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, and National First-Generation Award. She has maintained a 5.68 weighted GPA. She plans to go to the University of Florida and study dentistry.
Calihua-Panzo about how her parents inspire her achievement: "Well as immigrants, they kind of sacrificed everything so I could have this opportunity. And I actually, nobody in my family has ever seeked higher education, so it just kind of feels like I have this opportunity to do something so great, especially for my people. So I just want to be able to use my resources, my tools, my skills, to be able to serve my community."
From the letter of recommendation: "Beyond academics, Yeneisi has shown an impressive ability to balance a wide range of responsibilities and activities. Her role as a tutor at the Guadalupe Center highlights her compassion and leadership, as she simplifies complex schoolwork and creates an engaging learning environment for young students. As a team leader in lacrosse and a member of the crosscountry team, she exemplifies discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, fostering a positive and encouraging atmosphere for her peers."
― Anita Munoz Trejo, science teacher
Margaret Poling
School: Lely
Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse
Highlights: Poling was captain for the basketball, cross country, and lacrosse teams. She is a member of student government, performs in the marching band, is in Irish dance, and Project Unify. A National Honor Society member, she has a 5.36 weighted GPA and is ranked fourth in her class of 337. She also participated in the Collier County Sheriff's Teen Leadership Academy.
Poling about being a team captain: "When you're an upperclassman, but you're not a captain, I feel like it's a little scary to go up to someone, but when you're a captain, I think that people are more likely to come to you if they need help on anything. And I've been honored to be that person for a lot of people. And it kind of reminds me of, like, how I was as a freshman and a sophomore, and how, you know, I was scared and I didn't have the skills yet to, you know, be good at the sport, especially lacrosse. So being able to be that person for someone else and teach them has been a full circle moment."
From the letter of recommendation: "Ms. Poling is a leader who leads by example and is not afraid to ask for help and help others. Ms. Poling does not need to be asked to help others, she does what she sees needs being done and executes responsibilities with no additional questions asked. As an example, I have witnessed Ms. Poling helping other students with chemistry material when they are struggling not because I asked her to, but because she wanted them to understand and succeed. In the marching band setting, I have seen Ms. Poling go out of her way to organize rehearsals and ensure that her section is always functioning at the highest level. She has an enthusiasm for the program that is contagious and has greatly helped the program to continue to get better over the last several years."
― Matthew Csontos, chemistry teacher
Jacob Watt
School: Marco Island
Sports: Basketball, Golf, Track
Highlights: Watt was the basketball and golf captain in his junior and senior years and the track captain all four years. He founded the school's Calculus Club, is a member of Key Club, and has volunteered at various beach cleanups, at the Tour De Marco, the Kiwanis Car Show, the Spring Jubilee, and with Anna's Friends. He was a student representative for the Marco Island Academy Rays Squadron Endowment Investment Team. Watt, who has a 5.25 weighted GPA, will be attending the University of Miami as a Presidential Scholarship recipient.
Watt on why he volunteers in the community: "So my mom is really involved with the community, and that kind of helps me, like almost want to help the community as well, because my mom's a founder of Marco Island Academy, by the way, so she's really involved with the donors and stuff. So I almost kind of want to do that, because I feel like it helps her and it helps me."
From the letter of recommendation: "I have known Jacob to be one of our school's most approachable, supportive, and mature individuals. He sets high standards for himself and serves as a glowing role model for his peers. It has been a pleasure to see Jacob develop from the kind middle school boy into the strong leader and man he has become."
― Brandon J.E. Swope, Science Department Chair
Tara Watkins
School: Naples
Sports: Cross Country, Softball, Track and Field, Weightlifting
Highlights: Watkins has three school cross country Most Valuable Runner awards and multiple state qualifications in track. She also played softball her first three years. She'll continue her cross country and track career at Furman. She served as the Student Body President her freshman year and has been an active member of the Student Government. She's a co-chair and social media manager for the TOM’S Campus Club, treasurer of the National Honor Society, and volunteered for the Gulf Coast Runners Youth Track Team, Project Unify Day for the Special Olympics and spent two weeks at an animal shelter in Costa Rica.
Watkins on juggling her sports, activities and academics: "I really have to have time management. I have to have a planner. If I don't have a planner and plan my day out, I get really frustrated, but yeah, so I just go to school, I make sure I get what I need to be done in class, and try not to have homework if possible. And then I go to track, and if it's softball in the spring too, I would go to that practice, and then just try to get as much done. And know what I need to get done, and really prioritize what needs to be done."
From the letter of recommendation: "She's what educators hope all students will be. Apart from being a great student and individual athlete, Tara also displays exceptional leadership in various areas. She leads by example and with words, helping to motivate and encourage her teammates. Tara supports her fellow runners with edification and encouragement, even when she is pushing herself to her limits."
― Bronze Bruland, Advanced Mathematics and track coach
Samantha Strahle
School: Palmetto Ridge
Sports: Cross Country, Track and Field, Weightlifting
Highlights: Strahle is heading to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy prep school and wants to compete in the heptathlon and indoor pentathlon. She's a member of JROTC and was the battalion commander, she won the rifle team's Top Gun Award as a freshman, has commanded the Raiders Challenge team and has won several presidential fitness awards and JROTC Academic Wreaths. In track, she holds the school 800-meter and javelin record. In weightlifting, she placed second in Olympic and third in traditional lifts at the state meet.
Strahle on balancing her training between running and weightlifting: "So junior and senior years is when I kind of figured out a good rhythm, because, obviously, doing running and lifting, you have to really prioritize recovery, and both of those sports require year-round training. So trying to find a good balance between running in the mornings and lifting in the afternoons. Do I have to switch it? When do I meet? When do I recover? I think really between junior and senior years is where I kind of figured it out, and I was able to really dial in on what I needed to do."
From the letter of recommendation: "As Samantha's teacher, coach and mentor for the past 4 years, I can unequivocally, and objectively state that Samantha is in the top 1 percent of all students that I have ever worked with in all my years as an educator. There are many reasons for my profound endorsement of Samantha, let me share some of the core attributes this incredible person has displayed to me and others throughout the years. As the director of a leadership development and enhancement program, I have assessed thousands of students and their personal leadership skills. Central to success in school and in society is the ability to possess skill sets such as integrity, honor, communications, time management, conflict mresolution, decision making, commitment ethic, self-esteem, empathy, and drive strength motivation. The Success Profiler is a psychological based test designed to objectively capture a student's level of expertise in essential leadership skill sets. Samantha has consistently scored in the 98th percentile on all the Success Profiler Assessments she was administered during her years as my student."
― John Sarnecky, Major USA retired, Senior Army Instructor
Alexa Haley
School: Seacrest Country Day
Sports: Beach Volleyball, Volleyball
Highlights: Haley has been a starter and captain on Seacrest's four-time state champion volleyball team and will be attending the University of Central Florida to play volleyball. The libero finished her career with 2,133 digs. Off the court, she spends her time at church and youth group, she's a co-leader and founder of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Seacrest, and is a peer mentor.
Haley on being a captain and leader: "It's a confidence piece that I had to work on as I've gotten older and my dad helps me with that too, just with confidence in knowing and believing in myself no matter the age that you are, because I believe that you can be a leader at any age, set an example, work hard. So I feel like that's something that I always needed to remember, and also sometimes it's not the popular thing to do as a leader. The leader might not be the most popular one, because he kind of has to get the team in line, and that's not the most popular thing to do sometimes. So I think it's understanding that being a good teammate, caring for your team, and just understanding that it's more than just volleyball or beach volleyball, whatever sport you're playing, and caring about your teammates."
From the letter of recommendation: "Lexi's sportsmanship extends beyond the classroom and onto the court. She is supportive of her peers, encouraging them through both triumphs and setbacks. I witnessed this countless times. Lexi is always by her teammates' side to encourage and praise them when they score and to offer words of support when they miss. Whether in academics or athletics, she competes with integrity, driven by a genuine desire for personal growth rather than external validation."
― Mandy Maiman. Math Department Chair
Xavier Barnhart
School: St. John Neumann
Sports: Cross Country, Wrestling
Highlights: Barnhart went 49-3 in his senior season, capturing district and regional titles at 175 pounds and finishing third in the state. He will attend Southeastern University to wrestle. He's planning to major in business. Off the mat, he's a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteered for the Naples Bears youth wrestling club, Lost Tribe youth wrestling club, Meals of Hope, and St. Matthew's House. Barnhart is also the owner and partner of Ice Bros LLC, which sells ice to local businesses, with his two brothers.
Barnhart on what drives him to give back to the community: "I say me and my brother started our business. We wanted to make people's lives better and we hire employees that are less fortunate people. So we try to give them a job, pay them well. I'd say volunteering does, like, the same thing, helping to give back to people that are less fortunate."
From the letter of recommendation: "Wrestling, in particular, is a sport that requires immense mental and physical strength, and Xavier Barnhart has excelled in it, consistently showing leadership both on and off the mat. His ability to motivate his teammates and guide younger athletes has made him a pillar of the team, earning the respect of both his peers and coaches.Academically, Xavier Barnhart has proven himself to be a scholar of the highest caliber. His intellectual curiosity and dedication to his studies have consistently placed him at the top of his class. He has a natural ability to grasp complex concepts and apply them with creativity and insight."
― Corporal Ryan Tutt, Collier County Sheriff's Office
Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
1990 — Terry Dean, Barron Collier
1991 — Rich Hill, Barron Collier
1992 — Danny Bond, Naples
1993 — Ryan Krzykowski, Lely
1994 — Jean Bonnici , Naples
1995 — Lynn Miller, Naples
1996 — Ethan Altaratz, Naples
1997 — Jacki Haar, Lely
1998 — Carissa Johnson, Immokalee
1999 — Kelly Roloff, Barron Collier
2000 — Lars Grimm, Community School
2001 — Shannon McGregor, St. John Neumann
2002 — Eric Beights, Lely
2003 — Alyssa Van Gemert, Barron Collier
2004 — Ingrid Schumacher, Naples
2005 — Wiselet Rouzard, Immokalee
2006 — Lee Campbell, Gulf Coast
2007 — Samantha Milne, Palmetto Ridge
2008 — Kelsey Assarian, Barron Collier; Jack Swanson, Naples
2009 — Taylor Burfield, Community School
2010 — Ryan Iamurri, Naples
2011 — A.J. Prokop-Ervin, Naples
2012 — Brett Clark, Barron Collier
2013 — Danielle Avery, Naples
2014 — Ryan Celano, Community School
2015 — Michael Walker, Naples
2016 — Stephanie Paul, Community School
2017 — Emily Browne, Barron Collier
2018 — Paula Gomes, Gulf Coast
2019 — Jensen Jones, St. John Neumann
2020 — Malaya Melancon, First Baptist
2021 — Trace Davidson, Gulf Coast
2022 ― Lane Calkins, Naples
2023 ― Carole Ann Hussey, Seacrest
2024 ― Sophia McCartney, St. John Neumann