Senior Spotlights 2023
Sophia Lowrie, Executive Editor
Our Senior Spotlights articles feature the incredible individuals of the MIA class of 2023. Here, you will find the achievements, reflections, goals, and qualities of the students who have grown and made their mark over the last four years. I encourage you to read every one, as each person has something unique to offer. Seniors, we are proud of you! Go Rays!
Senior Spotlight: John Boxma
John Boxma played two varsity sports in his senior year. He competed in basketball in the fall and baseball in the spring. John has been playing basketball since he was in 5th grade and has been playing all 4 years of high school. He played the point guard position in basketball and is a very dedicated player. This is shown through his free time being spent playing and practicing basketball. Joh...
Senior Spotlight: Shamus Coyle
Shamus Coyle competed in two varsity sports during his senior year. Beginning in his freshman year, Shamus has played baseball and basketball during his four years at Marco Island Academy. Shamus explains that throughout these years, he has learned how to work with others, be disciplined, resilient, and how to deal with failure. Shamus shares that his favorite memory from baseball throughout the years was...
Senior Spotlight: Benji Beightol
Benji Beightol has played two years of basketball at Marco Island Academy, starting in his junior year and playing his first year of football as a senior. Although he does full-time dual enrollment at FSW, his MIA spirit on the field or court feels like he is one of our own. Benji plans to attend UCF following graduation from high school. However, he does not plan to continue to play sports thro...
Senior Spotlight: Payton Rice
Payton Rice has played basketball and tennis ever since she was a freshman. What she learned from tennis is that it’s a mind game and you have to stay calm. For basketball, she learned that excellence takes time. After high school, Payton plans to go to college and be a commercial pilot. She’ll continue playing tennis in college. Her favorite moment from basketball was the Bishop Verot t...
Senior Spotlight: Daniel Donaldson
Daniel Donaldson competed in two varsity sports his senior year. He has played two years of football starting his junior year and this year is his first year of basketball and lacrosse. Throughout his years at MIA, he has learned to never give up especially in sports as there are more challenging times than others. After high school, Daniel has plans to attend Florida Atlantic University. Howeve...
Senior Spotlight: Reid Scearce
Despite only playing one season of MIA Soccer, Mr. Scearce's skills on the soccer field were highly valued. He was positioned in the left backfield. Even though he hadn't played in a long time, the memories he shared with his teammates were priceless. "It didn't matter if we won; what mattered was that we played well," Mr. Scearce explained. Reid will attend New Hampshire University to study business af...
Senior Spotlight: Gavin Lang
Gavin Lang has been at Marco Island Academy for four years and in that time he has been involved with the golf team and, recently, the basketball team. Since he was a freshman, Gavin has been on the MIA golf team. He was a player on the team for all four years of his highschool career. Gavin shares that his favorite part of being on the golf team was getting to play on the course every week. Du...
Senior Spotlight: Colby Chute
Colby Chute played three sports in his final year of high school at Marco Island Academy; golf, soccer, and baseball. Colby has been playing soccer for as long as he could remember, and he said that he's loved baseball ever since he could pick up a ball. Also, Colby has been playing golf since his sophomore year and is continuing to play the sport his senior year as well After high school, Co...
Senior Spotlight: Thomas Dickson
Thomas Dickson has been a key player for the boy's soccer team since his junior year and played football and tennis during his senior year. He came to MIA in his junior year from Washington state. Thomas does plan to continue playing soccer throughout college as he wants to walk on at UCF or St. Thomas. He plans on majoring in astronomy or space studies. His favorite memory from MIA soccer is ...
Senior Spotlight: Jonathan Cao
Jonathon Cao played on the boy's soccer team as a senior at Marco Island Academy. This was his first year playing soccer, and it was the first sport that he played at MIA. Jonathan decided to play his senior year because his friends were able to convince him to be a part of the team. Jonathan quickly worked his way up on the team. He played many positions including left back, right back, center...
Senior Spotlight: Virginia Lowe
Virginia Lowe is a senior at Marco Island Academy. Virginia has been on Marco Island Academy’s volleyball and soccer teams all four years of high school. She plays setter and libero for the volleyball team and defensive line and midfield for the soccer team. Virginia was captain of the soccer and volleyball team in her senior year. Some of her favorite memories from volleyball were the Lely game...
Senior Spotlight: Kathryn Barry
Kathryn Barry has been a member of Marco Island Academy’s girl’s basketball team since her freshman year. Before that, she has been shooting hoops for as long as she could remember. She has seen the Ray’s advance through four winning seasons and two PCAC Championships. Kathryn has learned that when the team was having fun on the court, they were excelling. After high school, Kathryn plans to attend R...
Senior Spotlight: Zachary Bennarroch
Zachary Bennarroch played his first year of football and tennis as a senior at Marco Island Academy. This is also his first year attending MIA, as he transferred from an online school. After high school, Zach plans on attending college to major in computer science. However, he doesn’t plan on continuing football or tennis throughout college. His favorite memory from football was when his teammate, R...
Senior Spotlight: Troy Morales
Troy Morales has played multiple sports over the years but in his senior year, he continued playing for the MIA football and tennis team for the fourth year in a row. After high school, he plans to major in aerospace engineering as he has dreamed of being an engineer for NASA ever since he was a kid. He plans on continuing his love for sports as he wants to try out for a school football team in c...
Senior Spotlight: Sommar Kashey
Sommar Kashey has been at MIA all four years and has been a cheerleader here all four years as well. She is an active student-athlete as she is involved in soccer and track at the school as well. When Sommar isn’t indulging herself in sports or her dual-enrollment courses, she spends time with family and friends. She plans to attend college after graduating, however, she is still determining ...
Senior Spotlight: Estefany Ceron-Garcia
Estefany Ceron-Garcia has been a key soccer player at Marco Island Academy. Originally from El Salvador, Estefany spends her summer and winter breaks in California. She has been playing soccer for 6 years. High school soccer has been a big part of Estephany’s life. Her favorite memory of her time playing is scoring a header goal against the opposing Saint John Newman team. Her favorite team ma...
Senior Spotlight: Alejandro Ruiz-Vallejo
Alejandro Ruiz-Vallejo has played lacrosse throughout his entire high school career. He played for Lely’s team for three years, but finally got to play for MIA’s new team his senior year. After graduation, Alejo plans to join the Marines and become an engineer. He does not plan on pursuing the sport further. Alejo’s favorite memory from the past lacrosse season was when the boys got their...
Senior Spotlight: Taylor Drott
Taylor Drott is a senior at Marco Island Academy, and is one of the captains, as well as the goalkeeper of the soccer team. She has been playing soccer at MIA since her sophomore year but has been playing since she was in 1st grade, playing recreation as a striker until 5th grade. In middle school, she played for both the MICMS team and a Marco Island travel team as goalie. Taylor continued playin...
Senior Spotlight: Zachary Ferro
Zachary Ferro has been playing baseball since he was three years old. At Marco Island Academy, he has three years of experience on the baseball team. Zach is a highly valued player on the team. He intends to attend FSW after high school to play in the major leagues. One of Zach's favorite memories was when his teammate, Jonathan Ramos, asked their coach for the bucket of curveballs. The baseball ...
Senior Spotlight: Jack Berry
Jack Berry competed in varsity baseball during his junior and senior year. Throughout his years playing baseball for MIA, he has learned to accept failure in a game that is based on failure. He has also learned how to become a leader and how to deal with pressure. His favorite memory from baseball at MIA was hitting back to back home runs earlier this year in a game against First Baptist Academy wi...
Senior Spotlight: Chase Berry
Chase Berry has competed in one varsity sport during his senior year at Marco Island Academy. He has played 1 year of football during his junior year and 2 years of baseball starting in his junior year. One of his favorite memories from baseball was when him and his brother Jack hit back-to-back home runs. Throughout his years at MIA, he has learned that the better you treat people the better thi...
Senior Spotlight: Michael Puell
Micheal Puell is one of the inaugural players for Marco Island Academy's new lacrosse team. This is his first year ever playing lacrosse. Coming from a family of doctors, Michael disregards the possible toll it could have on his body, as he loves to go out there and play. In the future, he is considering playing the sport for the club lacrosse team at Florida State University. His favorite memory...
Senior Spotlight: Payton Rice
Payton Rice has played basketball and tennis ever since she was a freshman. At Marco Island Academy, Payton has learned from tennis is that it’s a mind game and you have to stay calm. For basketball, she's learned that excellence takes time. After high school, Payton plans to go to college and be a commercial pilot. She’ll continue playing tennis in college. Her favorite moment from basket...
Senior Spotlight: Charli Noyes
Charli Noyes has been a part of the varsity track and field team at Marco Island Academy for four years. She began her track career in her freshman year. Charli has been a role model for the team as she was labeled the team captain in her junior year. Her favorite part of being the team captain of the team was leading the team through giving positive reinforcement. After high school, Charli plans to continue ...
Senior Spotlight: Caitlyn Sadofsky
Caitlyn Sadofsky has been a part of the track and field team for three years at Marco Island Academy. Beginning her sporting career in high school, she cheered for winter sports teams then moved onto track and field since she enjoyed competing against other schools and bettering herself by getting faster each race she competed in. Caitlyn’s favorite part of being a part of the track team was gett...
Senior Spotlight: Zoie Swift
Zoie Swift is a new member of Marco Island Academy's Thespians Troupe 8628, however she’s been in the theater program for a while now. Her favorite moment from thespians is hanging out with the fellow thespians as she waits her turns in districts. When she’s graduated from high school, she plans to attend Santa Fe College. Though she’s not going to pursue theater as a career, however, she w...
Senior Spotlight: Lexi Smith
Lexi Smith is a member of Marco Island Academy's Thespians Troupe 8628. Lexi has been away from theatre for a few years, and Thespians is helping her get back into it. Her favorite part about Thespians is the ability to express and work on their talents freely. When she gets out of high school, she’s planning on getting into a theater college, however, she hasn’t committed to a college yet. ...
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