Meet the 15 finalists for the 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award

The Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation has honored Collier County high school student-athletes for the past 36 years, emphasizing the student and the athlete in each finalist. The 2026 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. Fifteen 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 37th Annual Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award Banquet on Thursday, May 7 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.

Aubrey Guidry, Marco Island Academy, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Brooke Bledsoe, Lely, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Caidyn Haberman, Seacrest, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Cameron Otterbeck, Community School of Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Caroline Hayes, The Village School, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Hunter Babb, First Baptist, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

John Allen, Palmetto Ridge, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Kiara Rakes, Gulf Coast, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Kiley Frearson, Aubrey Rogers, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Logan Bartelt, St. John Neumann, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Maurilio Solano, Golden Gate, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Olivia Demere, Everglades City, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Sol Reyes, Immokalee, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Sophie Simons, Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Todd Malick-Beltron, Barron Collier, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Aubrey Guidry, Marco Island Academy, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Aubrey Guidry, Marco Island Academy, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Brooke Bledsoe, Lely, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Caidyn Haberman, Seacrest, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Cameron Otterbeck, Community School of Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Caroline Hayes, The Village School, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Hunter Babb, First Baptist, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

John Allen, Palmetto Ridge, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Kiara Rakes, Gulf Coast, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Kiley Frearson, Aubrey Rogers, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Logan Bartelt, St. John Neumann, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Maurilio Solano, Golden Gate, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Olivia Demere, Everglades City, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Sol Reyes, Immokalee, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Sophie Simons, Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

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The 15 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete 2026 award nominee photos

Todd Malick-Beltron, Barron Collier, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Former NCAA basketball coach and current college hoops analyst Tom Crean will be the event's keynote speaker.

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.

Naples High cross country and track athlete Tara Watkins, who signed to play at Furman, became the 12th athlete from her school to be named the Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete winner at the 36th annual banquet.

Here are the 15 finalists for 2026, including highlights from their resumes, quotes from their interview with the committee, and a snippet from their letters of recommendation.

John Allen

John Allen, Palmetto Ridge, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Palmetto Ridge

Sports: Cross Country, Track and Field

Varsity Letters: 7

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.68/4.90

Highlights: Allen was the cross country team MVP his senior year. He works as a student clerk at the Collier County Sheriff's Office. He's also been a member of HOSA and volunteered as a track coach at Corkscrew Middle school. He'll attend UCF in the fall and study accounting.

Quote on who has been a major influence in his life: "I think it would be my coach for that. My coach, he's always been like the good and the bad days, he's always brought us back up, and he really has focus on this idea that we can always be better. We can always grow in our sport, you know, one bad race doesn't define you. One good race doesn't define you either. You can always do better as well. So over the years, all 4 years, I've had Coach Matt Cevallos. He has done an amazing job with me and the team of motivating us, pushing us, and really just helping us have this mentality, discipline, that hard work does pay off."

From Recommendation Letter: "As a leader, John played a pivotal role in the Cross-Country team's success. On multiple occasions he's organized gatherings for runs when I can't be present. Certain interval workouts he'll rotate leading the efforts to ensure teammates get an idea of both what the pace should feel like but also how to lead it themselves. He also does well to make an effort in bringing newer athletes into the program to help them better understand what's being asked of them. Above all that, John communicates very effectively to myself and his fellow teammates, ensuring the agenda goes as planned for all groups."

— Matthew Cevallos, Cross Country, Weightlifting and Track coach

Hunter Babb

Hunter Babb, First Baptist, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: First Baptist

Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 9

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 4/4.53

Highlights: A 400 and 800 runner on the track team, he finished in second and third in those events, respectively, at the district meet. Off the track, the class Salutatorian is Senior Class President, Student Leadership University Graduate and Ambassador and volunteers for school athletic events, Stewart's Basketball Camp, and Gulf Coast Runners. Babb works as a lifeguard at the Great Wolf Lodge and a bookkeeper for Tonnesen Accounting. He'll attend Hillsdale College in the fall to run track and major in accounting.

Quote on being a team captain: "It's an incredible blessing, because, well, I've attended Student Leadership University. It's an organization that takes you to incredible places, D.C., Europe, and we learn about leaders, and what they really emphasize is being at the feet of Jesus. Or, in other words, you're the servant. And so, as a captain, I take that role as serving others, being with them, not necessarily recognition, more so working on the person in front of me, because that's who they are. And even my life, the leaders that have impacted me, they cared about me. They intentionally worked for me, and fought for me, prayed over me, and I wanna kind of reciprocate that to those who are under me now."

From Recommendation Letter: "Hunter embodies the ideal balance of academic excellence, athletic commitment, and servant leadership. Shortly after I began my role as Varsity Track & Field Coach, Hunter took the initiative to personally reach out and introduce himself. Within minutes, it was clear I was speaking with a natural team leader. He demonstrated impressive maturity and professionalism while thoughtfully outlining his plan to navigate an early-season injury while remaining involved with the team. He committed fully to rehabilitation while remaining present, supportive, and engaged - a reflection of his selflessness and leadership mindset."

— Joseph Lampkin, Track & Field head coach

Logan Bartelt

Logan Bartelt, St. John Neumann, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: St. John Neumann

Sports: Cross Country, Football, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.90/4.36

Highlights: Bartelt repeated as a district 800-meter champion his senior season and set the 600-meter school record. In cross country, the Celtics team captain became the school's first district champion in 17 years, set the school's 5K record and finished 10th at the Class 1A state championship. Academically, he's National Honor Society and Key Club member, earned the William S. Gentry Student Scholarship and Guardian Angel Scholarship while taking 6 AP courses. He will attend the University of Florida and major in finance.

Quote on being a team captain: "I'm not necessarily a super vocal leader in terms of motivating people, or, like, yelling and screaming at them, but I like to think that I lead by example. I kind of show up regardless of how I'm feeling, show up with an attitude that I'm here to get better, go 110% in at all times. And I think that's getting to know my teammates on a personal level instead of just kind of broadly going, like, hey guys, you know, we're here to win, we're here to do this. Kind of understanding each person individually, and kind of motivating that way."

From Recommendation Letter: "Throughout his high school career, Logan has shown an impressive ability to balance rigorous academics with competitive athletics. A dedicated member of both the Varsity Football and Track & Field programs through his junior year, Logan earned recognition as a three-time All-America Classic selection, Offensive MVP, and Regional Track Qualifier. He also holds school records in Cross Country, a testament to his discipline, endurance, and commitment to continuous improvement. His decision not to return to football senior year reflected a thoughtful prioritization of his academic and personal goals-a level of self-awareness uncommon at his age."

— Susan Cavness, AP Environmental Science and Physics teacher

Brooke Bledsoe

Brooke Bledsoe, Lely, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Lely

Sports: Softball, Volleyball, Weightlifting

Varsity Letters: 10

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.97/5.49

Highlights: The captain of all three of her teams her senior year, she was the CCAC, district, and regional champion for Olympic lifts, and district runner-up for Traditional lifts. In softball, she'll finish her career with an above .500 batting average. Academically, the dual enrollment student at FSW is a National Honor Society member, AICE Diploma and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award recipient, and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes leadership. She works part-time at The Factory at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. She'll attend Southeastern University to play softball and major in biochemistry.

Quote on how being part of the weightlifting team helped her grow: "I would say I struggled with anxiety very severely my freshman year. I was so nervous to even try out for softball, which I've been playing that sport since I was 4. And I was just so nervous to do anything, try anything new. And then my sophomore year, I can accredit a lot of this to my mom. She knew what I was struggling with, and she knew it would be a good chance to say, 'Hey, maybe you should do this' and so she kind of pushed me to do the hard things or things that I really did not want to do. And so I listened to her. I was like 'OK, I will try weightlifting.' And I walk in the weight room, and I'm the only girl there. And the baseball team, the basketball team, football team is all there, and I'm like, 'Oh my goodness.' And so I just stuck with it. Eventually, three more girls tried out. And just feeling strong and feeling confidence in yourself, that's what kind of made the turning point for me. I got self-confidence. I kind of learned how to be a leader and just talk to the people around me, because it was an individual sport, so I felt like you could be more connected to your teammates as well."

From Recommendation Letter: "If I had to describe Brooke in a few words, it would be social, hardworking, and fierce. In a classroom setting, Brooke is not afraid to ask questions and go the extra mile to succeed. If something did not make sense, she was the first to come see me during her free time to clarify things. If others did not understand something, Brooke would be the first to offer her help. For the past four years I have seen Brooke take some of the most rigorous classes we offer. This of course comes with its set of challenges. But Brooke has taken this to stride and always puts in her best effort in her classes. Her strong determination to succeed has been one of the reasons she been a star in her senior class."

— Sander Langebeeke, AP and AICE mathematics teacher

Olivia Demere

Olivia Demere, Everglades City, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Everglades City

Sports: Basketball, Cheer, Softball, Volleyball

Varsity Letters: 14

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.2/3.9

Highlights: A basketball, softball, and volleyball team captain her senior seasons, she's volunteered at the Everglades City Seafood Festival and worked concessions for the booster club as well as working for Triad Seafood. A dual enrollment student at FSW, she's graduating a year early to join the Marines, where she'll pursue working for the air crew.

Quote on graduating a year earlier and entering the Marines: "I really just want to prove to people that I can do it, because I have a lot of people who think that the Marines are too tough for that. I should look at something different, but a big part of it is just being able to prove that I can do it, and that I'll be able to."

From Recommendation Letter: "As Olivia’s teacher, I witnessed her extraordinary ability to quickly understand literature and apply it to her writings and classwork. Olivia is talented at considering the subtleties within literature and the purpose behind author’s works. Olivia would always go above what was required of her to complete her work. Olivia was an outstanding notetaker along with a talent for annotation and would go beyond what was required to develop a multidimensional perspective of literature. Throughout the year Olivia would participate in book discussions with her classmates that clearly showed her insightful talent in literature. Inmy 37 years as an educator Olivia is probably one of the most intelligent and creative individuals I have had the pleasure of working with."

— Leslie Davanzo, English teacher

Kiley Frearson

Kiley Frearson, Aubrey Rogers, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Aubrey Rogers

Sports: Basketball, Lacrosse, Swimming

Varsity Letters: 11

Unweighted/Weighted GPA: 4.0/5.50

Highlights: Frearson was swim team captain, a district qualifier in multiple events, and a regional qualifier in the 100-meter butterfly event, winning the Team Patriot Award. For basketball, she helped lead the Patriots to CCAC and district championships, finishing her career with 500 rebounds. She was a lacrosse team captain. For extracurricular activities her senior year, she was also a campus ambassador and co-president of Morgan's Message Club, which works for suicide prevention, was the DECA vice president and district competitor, a Model United Nations competitor, and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Government. She will attend the University of Florida plans to pursue a major in sports management.

Quote on balancing school, sports, and extracurricular activities: "I'm very goal-oriented. So, like, I know I have to put my academics first and then my athletics, and then if I have time outside of that, for my social life and stuff like that. And I think it's just being driven because I've missed plenty of times where I could have gone out with friends or my friends are like, 'Oh, I'll do the paper the day that it's due.' The due date is the due date. So I just, I do stuff as soon as I get it, and then that kind of pushes me, and I've had motivation up to this point. So I'm just gonna try to continue through with that. Try to do everything."

From Recommendation Letter: "Kiley has served as a captain of the swim team, a role she has handled with maturity, responsibility, and genuine care for her teammates. She leads by example, and the younger swimmers consistently look to her for guidance, encouragement, and advice. Kiley is approachable, supportive, and dependable­qualities that make her an outstanding leader and teammate."

— Adam Peterson, Aubrey Rogers INCubator teacher, Swim coach

Aubrey Guidry

Aubrey Guidry, Marco Island Academy, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Marco Island

Sports: Cross Country, Tennis, Track & Field, Soccer

Varsity Letters: 10

Unweighted/Weighted GPA: 4.0/5.4

Highlights: For her senior year, Guidry was the National Honor Society vice president, Spanish Honor Society treasurer, a Science National Honor Society member, Cambridge AICE Diploma recipient, a recipient of the College Board National Top School Recognition Award, and earned a 1510 SAT superscore. She was the Key Club president and a Marco Island Academy Ambassador representing the school at public events. She will head to the Naval Academy with a goal of flying helicopters.

Quote on being a team captain: "At times, it's a little difficult, especially when I was younger, when I was team captain sophomore year, it was hard to, like, represent the team, and I was younger, and I had seniors, because I'm supposed to be in charge of them. But I've had more practice over the years, and it's definitely learning to lead by example, be there available for the other people to help them, if they need coaching advice. Because I've played tennis for like 9 years now, so I have a lot of experience with it. It's definitely helped me to give other people advice on it."

From Recommendation Letter: "As a captain of multiple athletic teams, Aubrey has proven herself to be a natural leader who inspires those around her. She leads not only by words, but by consistent effort, resilience, and accountability. Under her leadership, her teams have continued to improve year after year. Aubrey's ability to motivate her teammates, maintain team unity, and elevate overall performance has been extremely important in their success. She understands that leadership means service, and she continually places the needs of her team above her own."

— Kyle Ginther, Humanities teacher

Caidyn Haberman

Caidyn Haberman, Seacrest, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Seacrest

Sports: Softball, Soccer, Volleyball

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.29/3.48

Highlights: Haberman was soccer and volleyball captain her senior year as well as Student Government vice president, Plant club president, Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader, a Pickleball club, Entrepreneurship club, and Key Club member, and a peer mentor and in the fifth-grade buddies program. She plans to pursue a business or communications degree in college.

Quote on helping guide the volleyball team through four head coaches in four years: "Just, like, comforting them. Obviously, it's hard, but again, since we are such a small school, we all are like really close. It's not like a big high school where it's the freshmen and the seniors don't talk. We're all family. We all hang out on the weekend, so I'm honest. It's like really special. And I think that was helpful."

From Recommendation Letter: "Caidyn and her family are a highly involved group in this school community. Because she has a sister in middle school and one in our lower school, Caidyn and her family can often be found attending games and a variety of other events here on campus or even at other schools. The Haberman name is known by many, and as such, their reputation for involvement precedes them. Simply put, Caidyn makes this place better just by being here. She is a hard worker and any interaction I have ever had with her has been enjoyable. This community will miss her next year."

— Matt Diapella, English teacher

Caroline Hayes

Caroline Hayes, The Village School, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: The Village School

Sports: Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 17

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.93/4.53

Highlights: She competed in four varsity sports her senior year, serving as captain of the soccer, swim and tennis teams. Off the field, she has served as KidsCAN Junior Board Member and KidsCAN Chapter President, and been a member of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Society, Show Choir, TVS Theatre Productions, Bible Study Club, Spanish Club, Rotary Interact Club president, and Debate Club president. She also spent time as a Lee Health intern and NCH Concierge Medicine intern. She's also a College Board AP Scholar Award recipient. She will attend Boston College on a pre-med track.

Quote on being a team captain: "When I was in middle school, I was called up to play on varsity, so I was always like the little one getting all the guidance. And so becoming a captain, it was kind of like a full-circle moment. Like all of a sudden now I'm the person giving all the tips to the younger kids. And it's honestly incredible. I love being a captain. One of the highlights of being a captain was for tennis specifically. We made it to states last year on what we would call a miracle run. There was five of us, and you need five people to even have a team to compete, so it was kind of a really big deal for us to make it, and just being able to be a captain and helping everyone, and one of the main things that was really special about that is we all needed to work together as a team to be able to make it that far because we couldn't just rely on one person because there's only five of us. So being able to do the leader of that and help everyone through it was really special."

From Recommendation Letter: "I have been teaching for more than 25 years, and I can honestly say that Caroline is one of my favorite students ever! Our relationship has been defined by trust and empathy. Caroline is the kind of student who feels comfortable sharing her questions and concerns with me, and I have always appreciated the openness and thoughtfulness with which she speaks to me. In addition, Caroline was instrumental in helping me start a Student/Faculty Bible study group at lunchtime, and I had the privilege of getting to know her deeply through this. I came to deeply admire her commitment to her faith and her passion for sharing it.

— Rachel Moots, Upper School English teacher

Todd Malick-Beltron

Todd Malick-Beltron, Barron Collier, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Barron Collier

Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 4.0/5.86

Highlights: Athletically, he was the cross country team captain for the fourth time as a senior and the team's MVP and is also a captain for the track and field team. Academically, he's an AP Scholar with Distinction, earned the College Board School Recognition Award, and is a member of the National Honor Society. As a volunteer, he cared for rehabilitating Gopher tortoises at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, was a youth running coach and race volunteer for Gulf Coast Runners where he coached 35 runners aged 4-14 at Summer Run for Fun youth program. He will attend the University of Florida to pursue mechanical engineering.

Quote on how he learned his passion for nature: "Really, just watching these shows, because my parents didn't really allow us to watch cartoons ever, so it was all just NatGeo Wild, all those National Geographic shows. And I just kept looking more and more into Everglades, really. And then our region, like how close we are to everything, I would just drive out there and do all these things. And then the Conservacy, there were some camps over the summer, but before COVID, I went to with my brothers and sisters. And then, really from there, we just really got into it. I was always into that, through NatGeo Wild and stuff. It was great. Really, really enjoyed it."

From Recommendation Letter: "One of the clearest reflections of Todd's character is the time he has dedicated to service. He has volunteered extensively at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, working as a summer camp counselor and supporting conservation and environmental education. In the Conservancy's Wildlife Hospital, Todd serves as a dedicated "GOTO Grazer," caring for rehabilitating Gopher tortoises and contributing over 140 hours to species preservation. His service with Gulf Coast Runners - coaching youth athletes and supporting community races - shows his desire to inspire the next generation of runners. Todd's curiosity and sense of adventure also shine in unique ways. As a trained participant in the Florida Python Challenge, he has captured more than 22 invasive pythons, applying his environmental passion to real-world ecological challenges."

— Sandra Tussey, AP Chemistry teacher

Cameron Otterbeck

Cameron Otterbeck, Community School of Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Community School of Naples

Sports: Baseball, Golf

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.73/4.21

Highlights: As a senior, Otterbeck was a golf team captain and helped the team reach regionals. A baseball team captain, he broke the CSN single-season (6) and career home run records, and finished the regular season tied for third in Florida for RBIs with 40. Off the field, he was vice president of the Chinese National Honor Society and a member of the English National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Otterbeck has signed to play baseball at Villanova and pursue a business degree.

Quote on giving back through music: "So I grew up playing piano. I have this piano teacher for probably 10 years maybe. So I played piano basically my whole life. My mom got me into it when I was really young, and I just fell in love with it. It was something that I could go do outside of baseball, take my mind off of things, you know what I mean? Outside of athletics, piano was like my safety. I feel like I could just go play piano, it relaxes me, gets me out of like whatever funk or struggle I'm thinking about or going through. And so in high school, I did it in eighth grade as well, but I really started like grasping it and really thinking about it more in eighth grade throughout high school. Our piano teacher has good relationships with these nursing homes, so she brought it up with a few of her students, and so I was one of them as well as my brother. My mom plays guitar. My mom loves guitar. And so all of us will go into a nursing home around Christmas time and play for them. And we play Christmas songs, get them involved and stuff, make cards for them. My mom's really big into that. But yeah, I really love it."

From Recommendation Letter: "When I think back over the past ten years I have been coaching, Cameron Otterbeck is in a league all his own. His leadership is something I can always count on as a head coach whether it is 5:30 am team lift or our 7:00 pm game, he is always going to be there giving it everything he can. No matter how bruised or hurt he is, he will not let you take him out of the game and when the game is on the line, there is one person that not just the coaches look to but so do all his teammates. Cameron is the that one player for me that I will always use to compare all others to, from the way he carries himself at practice or out in public, to how he talks to teammates and umpires, Cameron is by far the most respectful, resilient, and competitive players I have ever been around."

— Brian Mayer, CSN head baseball coach

Kiara Rakes

Kiara Rakes, Gulf Coast, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Gulf Coast

Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.9/5.3

Highlights: A cross country and track team captain, she was part of the Sharks' state-qualifying cross country team the last two seasons and as a junior helped the track team place fourth in Class 3A as part of the second-place 4x800 team and fourth-place 4x400 relay. She also played two years of varsity basketball. The full-time dual enrollment student at FGCU is a National Honor Society member and part of the Mindset Matters Club and works part-time for the Glendale Group of SWFL. She'll be attending UCF in the fall to study Kinesiology.

Quote on where she finds her motivation: "My biggest goal in life is, obviously, I want to be successful as a human. But I'm also looking forward to once I have a permanent job, I really want to be able to help my mom retire. She's currently a middle school teacher at Oak Ridge, and she's getting older, and I want to make sure that I can help her retire earlier, because she is currently going to be paying for my college. So I want to make sure I can get enough income quickly as possible to make sure that she can retire."

From Recommendation Letter: "Beyond measurable results, what sets Kiara apart from her peers is the manner in which she leads. As captain, she models punctuality, preparation, and respect for teammates and coaches. She approaches training with a deliberate calm; she is the athlete who arrives early to stretch, who asks thoughtful questions about technique, and who remains composed during the inevitable setbacks of injuries or disappointing races. Teammates routinely look to her for encouragement and for clear, practical advice - she communicates in ways that lift others rather than drawing attention to herself. In team meetings and on the course, she holds herself to high standards while mentoring younger runners in recovery strategies, pacing, and mental preparation."

— Andrew Grillo, Girls Head Coach Track & Field

Sol Reyes

Sol Reyes, Immokalee, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Immokalee

Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 7

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.92/5.24

Highlights: Reyes reached the Class 3A cross country meet, where he placed 48th. Off the course, Reyes is a member of the National Beta Club and hosted a statewide project collecting more than 2,000 pairs of socks for those in need. He also founded Students Advocating for Change Today, which has handled projects like collecting care packages for families, creating travel bags for families relocating, and coordinating potluck dinners. He's a member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers steering committee. He's worked as a tutor at the Guadalupe Center, as a sale rep for Hollister, and on the gameday staff for FC Naples. He will attend the University of Chicago pursuing either a degree in international relations or law.

Quote on balancing school, sports, and extracurricular activities: "I have to give it credit to the athletics that I've been a part of. I think being a student-athlete, you know, you develop a work ethic, you develop discipline, and you develop all the tools that you need to be a good student. I feel like for me, cross country and track, I've been able to learn that it's kind of my therapy. You learn a lot about yourself when you're going on 10-mile runs. Right, you're going through a lot of things. I started running in middle school, and it's kind of like a way out, cause I came from Texas, I had to deal with all those feelings. I kind of developed that work ethic and from there, I actually started taking those tools and started to use it in school. Just starting to use that ambition to create something for myself, essentially."

From Recommendation Letter: "Sol's impact extends well beyond the course. He serves as a Tutor, helping younger students improve ESOL reading proficiency, and he holds leadership roles in the National Beta Club and the Student Farmworker Alliance. His work as a columnist and collaborator for The Curious Column further highlights his intellectual curiosity and commitment to literacy and communication. He is not simply involved, he is invested. The Wing Foot Scholarship honors students who exemplify perseverance, leadership, scholarship, and character. Sol Reyes embodies each of these qualities. From beginning on JV Cross Country to earning his place at the State Championship on Varsity, from excelling academically to serving his school community, Sol hasconsistently demonstrated what it means to commit fully to growth and excellence."

— Anita Munoz Trejo, Science teacher

Sophie Simons

Sophie Simons, Naples, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Naples

Sports: Swimming & Diving, Wrestling

Varsity Letters: 7

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.75/5.03

Highlights: As a swimmer, she qualified for the district and regional meet and on the mat she was named the girls wrestling team's MVP after winning a regional title and placing second at the state meet in her senior year. Academically, she took 7 AP classes, was a National Honors Society member and was nominated for the Academic Booster Club Golden Eagle Award. She was also a Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Civic Leaders of America member and a Glow Church Naples volunteer, and worked part-time for Ocean 5 Cleaning services. She will attend UCF and major in finance.

Quote on being a team captain: "I wanted to be a captain so bad, and getting the opportunity this year, and really like being there for my teammates, like everyone coming up to me and being like, 'Oh, how do you do this move', that was so fulfilling to me, and I love doing it. We had, like, the eighth-graders coming in, and we had sign-up sheet (for wrestling) and I really think that since I succeeded last year and this year, that we had so many girls. Like the year before, we had like five sign up, and this year we had like 30. Yeah, 30 girls signed up for wrestling."

From Recommendation Letter: "In addition to her academic excellence, Sophie is also a well-rounded individual. She has been committed to volunteer activities with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club, and Civic Leaders of America. In so many ways, this student impresses me, but I have been able to observe first hand how her peers look to her for guidance, leadership and accountability. Somehow, even with her rigorous course schedule, and volunteer commitments, Sophie has managed to support her family in working for their family business, often leaving laborious wrestling practices to go to work. In addition to her academic and artistic talents, Sophie has dedicated herself to her athletic endeavors and has become a source of pride for our athletic programs at Naples High School as a varsity wrestler and swimmer."

— Kelly Romero-Bettridge, Advanced Placement Human Geography & Advanced Placement Psychology

Maurilio Solano

Maurilio Solano, Golen Gate, 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee.

School: Golden Gate

Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field

Varsity Letters: 8

Unweighted GPA/Weighted GPA: 3.45/4.49

Highlights: Solano was the cross country MVP his senior season, being named a First-Team All-District and CCAC after placing third in the county meet, fifth in the district meet, and 33rd in Class 3A. He's been a member of various clubs, including Debate Club, Student Government, Diversity Club, National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society President, Sports Medicine Club and the Gulf Coast Runners. Out of school, he works as a lifeguard for Great Wolf Lodge. Having achieved his AICE Diploma, he will attend FGCU to study Kinesiology.

Quote on finding balance between academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities: "Yeah, it is not easy. And I think, first of all, it's extremely important to have a support system. I have my family to thank. They've been very helpful with me with trying to accomplish my goals. So they're one of the main reasons why I'm able to do so many things, too, because they also give me the time to focus on my academics, and I work so I can give back to them."

From Recommendation Letter: "Leo is the rare student-athlete who truly embodies the Winged Foot ideal: excellence in academics, excellence in athletics, and an infectious spirit of sportsmanship and joy. As a dedicated cross-country runner, he trains with remarkable discipline and consistency. Rain or shine, I have watched him push through grueling workouts with a smile that never fades-an outward sign of the inner resilience and positive attitude that define him. Every time he passes our practice, my entire tennis team lights up and yells Leo!" as if a celebrity has arrived. His exuberance is magnetic; he is genuinely the "life of the party" wherever he goes, yet he remains humble, respectful, and easy to talk to. In three years of regular conversations, I have never seen him without that trademark smile, even when I know he is exhausted from balancing academics, athletics, and a part-time job."

— Jason Zweibeck, U.S. History/Driver's Education teacher

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: 15 Collier County seniors are 2026 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award finalists