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Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NDN Athlete of the Week winner from March 3-15: Gulf Coast softball player Hannah Rearden
Each week during the school year the Naples Daily News selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports@ and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. The winners of the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Elevate Home Services receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. To get to know our winners better, the Naples Daily News will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete weekly. The Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services for March 10-15 was Gulf Coast softball player Hannah Rearden. Rearden edged out Aubrey Rogers lacrosse player Kellan Dellaposta by 223 votes, winning with 6,596 votes (38.94%). 2024-25 Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services. Question: How early did you get into softball? What drew you to the sport? Rearden: I have played softball since I was 10, so almost 7 years. My sister played first and I decided to try and ended up putting on the catchers gear and never taking it off. And now I'm committed to play in college, Columbia International University. Advertisement Previous winner: NDN Athlete of the Week winner from Feb. 24-March 1: First Baptist track and field's Aniston Newman What has this hot start been like for you and your teammates? Rearden: This year has been so much fun. My team has bonded well because we've had a go hard or go home mentality all year. My bat has given a hand in some close games and seeing my team's reactions to either a home run or a double have been absolutely priceless. Gulf Coast softball player Hannah Rearden was voted as the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week presented by Elevate Home Service for the week of March 3-15. Do you have a pregame ritual or routine? Rearden: Prayer has been so important. This is not done as a superstition but a true conversation with Christ. I take warm ups super chill and just try to relax and be myself. Advertisement Do you have a softball player, current or former, that you look up to? Rearden: I look up to former UF and Olympic catcher Aubree Munro-Watson. She is also my current catching coach. She's helped with the mental and physical aspects of the game. If you weren't playing softball, what sport would you be playing? Rearden: I would like to either throw shotput or try basketball. I think shot put would be a little more natural. Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Hannah Rearden, March 3-15 Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week by Elevate Home Services
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NDN Athlete of the Week winner from March 24-29: Gulf Coast track and field's Johnny Ruggiero
Each week during the school year the Naples Daily News selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports@ and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. The winners of the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week poll receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. To get to know our winners better, the Naples Daily News will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete weekly. The Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week for March 24-29 was Gulf Coast track and field standout Johnny Ruggiero. The senior finished first in the 400-meter dash at the North Port Invitational, clocking a time of 50.02, along with a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay. He received 56% of the vote. Advertisement Question: How early did you get into track and field? What drew you to the sport? Ruggiero: I first began growing interest into track in seventh grade, but COVID ended the season before it began. I then ran in eighth grade and had success, so I fell in love with the sport. Ms. (Charlotte) Bremsesh, the coach at Oakridge, was asking me to run, and I finally gave in, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Previous winner: NDN Athlete of the Week winner from March 17-22: Barron Collier track and field's Olivia Bersh What has it been like making a large impact in your final season? Ruggiero: It's awesome, I been working the past three years for the times I been hitting this year. It's great to finally see the payoff. Coach (Manual) Evans coming to Gulf Coast was also a very important reason why I am able to run how I am. He is a great coach and mentor, one of the best around. As well coach (Andrew) Grillo and coach (DeMarcus) Townsend have pushed me throughout the season, and I couldn't do anything without them. My teammates also help me make the impact I am, without them pushing me at practice every day I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing. Lastly, without the support of my family none of this is possible. Advertisement Do you have a ritual or routine before a meet? Ruggiero: The main thing I do consistently before a meet is pray to God, thanking him for the opportunity and blessing to even run every day and stay healthy. Without God, none of this is possible. Gulf Coast track athlete Johnny Ruggiero was voted the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services for the week of March 24-29. Do you have a track and field athlete, current or former, that you look up to? Ruggiero: I look up to Matthew Boiling and Noah Lyles. The reason being is because they show great work ethic, and there success shows for it. They are great examples for the next generation of runners. If you weren't doing track and field, what sport would you be playing? Ruggiero: I originally played baseball before quitting to run track. I played since I was 6 and that would be the sport I would've continued if I didn't run track. Advertisement Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Johnny Ruggiero, March 24-29 Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week
