Karina Baldwin is one of the four captains on MIA’s Varsity Cheer team. This is her second season cheering and she serves the role of a main base. Karina’s pre-game ritual is getting ready with her friends before the action packed games.

Karina’s favorite memory from this season is media day, because everyone got to “Dress up and take cute and silly pictures with one another”. Her inspiration is her assistant coach, Coach Joy Zaben. Karina admires her because of her “Strength” and inspiration for trying out for the team in the first place.

Karina’s advice for underclassmen that are interested in doing the sport is, “Cheer takes a lot of hard work, but as long as you put in the effort you’ll have a blast!”

Karina also gives a special thank you for both of her coaches and her parents, as she wouldn’t be where she is without them.

Mona Barbary is a first year member of MIA’s Varsity Cheer team. With a background in gymnastics, she joined the team with her friends, bringing her enthusiasm to the routines and chants. Known as “Mona Lisa” and “Moana”, Mona is a side base, who shows her strength not only in basing, but as a leader. 

Mona is inspired by her teammates, who make every practice and performance a “fun experience”. Before games, she enjoys getting ready with her friends, being “big backs” and eating Tropical Smoothie, and driving with the windows down.

One of Mona’s favorite memories from the season was celebrating their first win of the season together. She describes the moments after the game to be “exilerating” and one to remember. The joy of celebrating the win with her team made all the hard work worth it. 

For any upcoming freshman, Mona’s advice is to “Do it, it’s so fun!”. As the season goes on, she looks forward to creating more unforgettable memories with her teammates, and showing her spirit for the boys.

Noa Batlle has been a swimmer for 12 years, since she was 5. She has swam for both club and high school teams. “My parents put me in swimming because my whole family has been in water sports so my parents wanted to keep the tradition going.” Noa explained why she joined swimming all those years ago. Noa has a lot of experience in all the strokes but her favorite is breaststroke.

Noa’s favorite memory of the sport cannot be narrowed down to a single one, so many come to mind. She does however recall through all the “tortuous practices, I always had Emma to laugh with afterwards”. She refers to her long time teammate, and friend.

Noa’s advice to underclassmen is, “Don’t be like me and skip practices”.

Before meets you can find Noa playing music and stressing about the events the coach put her in. Looking back at Noa’s swim career she wants to highlight her inspiration which she shared was, “My coach and teammates who pushed me forward.”  Along with her greatest supporters, “I want to say thank you to my parents and grandparents for helping me see it through even if I wanted to quit sometimes. And I also want to say thank you to my coach of ten years, Coach Kamal. By teaching me at such a young age what it means to be truly dedicated and how important it is to put effort into something you care about. He has made me the swimmer and person I am today.” Noa shares.

Noa may be now be taking off her cap and goggles, smiling for one last team picture and zipping her swim bag one final time, but she will always have a special spot for the sport and the many memories she made with friends, coaches and within herself.

Ava Birdsall has been doing cheer for many years of her life, and joined MIA’s Varsity Cheer team when she moved to Naples her sophomore year. Being a flier has truly helped Ava break out of her shell. “I have been cheering most of my life, and it has made me so happy.” Ava is well known for her beautiful smile, and her bubbly personality that is so contagious.

Ava’s favorite memory of the year, is doing the halftime show at almost every game. She has really enjoyed seeing the team grow and become more involved over the past three years she has been involved. 

Ava’s pre-game ritual is to get some delicious pizza and listen to some hype music on the ride over. Ava’s cheer inspiration is her two loving coaches, Coach Gutwerk and Coach Joy. They have helped her every step of the way.

Ava would like to say thank you to Coach Joy and Gutwerk for “pushing me to do my very best” 

Blake Bott has been a part of MIA’s Varsity Football team for only one year, but it was most definitely a year to remember. Blake plays outside linebacker and is a starting special teams player. Bott chose the sport to get involved after transferring for his senior year.

Blake’s favorite memory was winning their first game of the year. The day was great, and he had a great football debut. With the nickname “8-bit” given to him, his teammates thought highly of him because of his willingness to come in and try to play any position. 

Blake has some wise words to underclassmen, “Join the sport, work hard and do your best. Practice how you play, and be respectful to the coaches.” 

Janie Cartwright has been a dedicated member of MIA’s Varsity Cross Country for the past four years, but her love for running stretches back to seven years.

Her biggest inspiration is her incredible teammates who have guided her through her four year tenure. 

Janie’s favorite all time memory was winning the North Port meet during her junior year with her very small, yet active team. It was one of the best achievements she has been a part of. 

Janie chose Cross Country because her oldest sister used to run, and, like any good younger sibling, she wanted to follow in her footsteps. 

For younger classmates thinking about running, Janie’s advice is “No matter how tough it gets, never quit. Lace up your shoes, and run your heart out!” Janie also wants to give a huge shoutout to Coach Bruce, her mom, and her team for always being there to push her forward.

Colin Cherr has been a part of the MIA Varsity Golf team for the past two years. Although he has not showed up for many matches, he enjoys coming to practices and learning how to improve his swing. Colin joined the Golf team because he wanted to do a sport with his friends Steel Ciurzynski and Zack Antaramain. 

Colin’s favorite memory from the season was when he accidentally hit his teammate Jacob Watt with a golf ball during practice. He described it as “a team bonding moment”, and he was also slightly embarrassed from it. 

Colin’s biggest inspiration is Tiger Woods and hopes to be “as rich as him” someday. 

Colin would like to thank Mr.Miller for his help and guidance over the past two years, along with all of his teammate’s support. He is sad to leave MIA this spring, but is excited to golf in his future.

Lucas Chraca is a senior on the MIA Varsity Football team. Lucas plays mainly defensive line and offensive line. Lucas joined the sport his junior year, and has played ever since. He was inspired to play because a lot of his friends were on the football team, and he did not want to miss out on the fun. 

Lucas describes his experience on the football team as, “At times it could get hard, but overall it was a very good experience.” Lucas also explained that he had good memories, and that it helped to teach him some important life lessons. 

Some of Lucas’ favorite memory from his tenure are the wins he was a part of. Additionally, the practices near the later part of his senior year, he also found very enjoyable. He is proud of the team’s growth and hopes they grow into a winning team in their future.

Veronica Fernandes is a four-year veteran of MIA’s Varsity Cheer team. Along with playing in high school, Veronica has been cheering and dancing since the age of 6.  Veronica is a very dedicated athlete on the team, and she was given one of the four captaincy spots this year.

With the given nickname “Roni”, given by teammates Cassie Letendre and Collette Combs, Veronica has so many lovely memories of the cheer team. Her favorite memories from the sport are all of the away games and the long bus rides after. 

Veronica’s pregame ritual is to eat and hang out with her friends. Veronica would like to thank her parents, Mrs. Galiana, and her teammates over the years for getting her where she is now. 

Lincoln Labutte has been a part of MIA’s Varsity Golf team for the past 4 years, but has played golf for over 7 years now. He started playing at MIA because the sport has been a part of his life for so long, and his uncle inspired his to play. 

Lincoln enjoys the sport, and loves being around his friends and has a fun time at every practice an match every season. Lincoln’s favorite memory of playing golf is playing in districts with his friends every year and celebrating after practices with Chipotle. 

Lincoln wants to thank his coach Mr. Miller for keeping him encouraged and active to playing golf and hopes to play golf in his future.

Jac Lamb is a cheerleader for MIA’s Varsity Cheer team. Jac has a vast background in theater and dance, and wanted to join Cheer because it meshes the two together and wanted to learn how to stunt. Jac enjoys the physical aspect of cheer as well as the environment of being on a team, for they have helped her break out of her shell.

Jac has been cheering for MIA for only one season, but did three years of cheerleading before. Pre-game, Jac makes sure to be fully warmed up and stretched and hydrated before the long four-hour game.

When asked if she had any advice for underclassmen that may be considering joining cheer Jac said “It seems intimidating at first but once you start it just gets more fun.” Jac is so excited to continue cheer for basketball season, and encourages more underclassmen to join the fun.

Cassie Letendre, also known as “Cass” or “Cassandra” as Esha calls her, is a veteran and captain of the MIA Varsity Cheer team. Her interest in the sport came up after former cheerleaders encouraged her to join her freshman year, saying that her “energetic and cheerful personality” would make her a great addition to the team. Never the less, she joined and never looked back.

Cassie enjoys connecting with underclassmen through her leadership. One of Cassie’s best cheer memories is from her junior year, when she snuck past Coach Gutwerk with former cheerleaders, “Mia Winnik, Kaylie Young and Helena Davis” and taught them how to pull libs and do cradles. 

Cassie’s pre-game ritual is driving around with the windows down with teammate Mary Montgomery, commonly blasting “Whiteboy Wasted” or any Jackson Five song. The ritual was carried on after her former teammate Collette graduated. 

Cassie’s inspiration is her close friend Collette Combs, who introduced her to cheerleading and served as her main source of support through her time on the team, and still does as she goes through life’s ups and downs.

Cassie would like to thank her family, teammates, and very loving coaches. She states, “I simply don’t know what I’d do without them.” Cassie has a message for underclassmen as well, “Be yourself, don’t listen to your doubters, and never stop being you. How can you be remembered for not being yourself…”

Miles Massie has been a key member of MIA’s Varsity Football team since his freshman year. As the team’s “brain of the offense”, the starting center. Miles plays an important role on the field, and his passion for the sport has grown over his four years. 

Football wasn’t always in the picture for Miles, but after attending freshman orientation and meeting the coaches, he knew that football was the sport for him. He’s been dedicated ever since, and his commitment paid off.  

Miles’ pregame ritual is simple, he drinks plenty of water from his giant Yeti, puts in his AirPods, and locks in for the game ahead. 

Miles’ biggest inspirations are his parents, whose support has been a constant source of motivation. Miles’ journey in football is a testament to hard work, dedication, and passion. His love for the game and the lessons he’s learned along the way will always stay with him as he moves forward, on and off the field.

One of Miles’ favorite memories was winning his first football game ever, his junior season. For younger players considering playing the sport, Miles has some advice: “Stick with it. There is so much you’ll gain from this sport, not just on the field, but in life. Winning a game is one of the best feelings, especially when you know how much effort went into it.” 

Lucy McFarland has been a part of the MIA Varsity Cheer team for 1 year, but she’s not shy of the cheer scene. Lucy has been under the lights for the past five years, and loves the sport so much. On the team she does almost every position. Lucy is mainly a side base, but also loves to fly and flip, as she is heavily featured in the MIA Football halftime performances. 

Her favorite memory on the team is whenever they perform the halftime routine. She loves to engage with the crowd and give her best smile. But before each game, Lucy enjoys getting together with her friends and preparing for the games. 

Lucy’s inspiration is her teammates most closest to her, who help her to get better each day. Lucy would also like to give a special thanks to her mom for always supporting her and helping her to achieve her goals regardless of their situation.

Throughout her years at MIA, some advice she has gained to give to future cheerleaders is to “never be discouraged. If you don’t get a new trick or stunt the first time, keep trying and never give up.”

Mary Montgomery, or as her teammates call her Mary Clare, is a third-year cheerleader on the Lady Ray’s Varsity Cheer team. On the team, Mary plays the role of backspot.

One of her favorite memories from the team is “Being able to create such a strong connection with each of my teammates, the away game bus rides with Cassie, and putting up cool stunts”. Montgomery finds this sport very rewarding, and would like to shout out her parents for supporting her in every decision she makes.

Before each game Mary loves driving to the games with teammate and friend Cassie Letendre.

Mary would like to specifically thank her parents for everything they have done for her, regardless of their situation. Mary would also like to thank her coaches who helped her succeed in the sport, and her close friends and teammates Mona and Cassie for always lending a helping hand and “making sure I and others always had a ride to games and practices.”

Before Montgomery’s final cheer season comes to a close she wants to leave the underclassmen with some advice, “Be loud, have fun, and be nice to you team mates and others, you’re a representation of the school and the team don’t forget that!”

Maddox Mourning is a key member of MIA’s Varsity Football team. Maddox has played football with MIA for both his junior and senior years. The positions Maddox plays on the football team are quarterback, defensive end and tight end.Maddox credits his love for sports to his father, who got him into sports when he was two years old.

Maddox’s favorite NFL team is the Tennessee Titans, and has been a fan since as long as he can remember. His inspiration in for football is former Tennessee Titans tight end, Delanie Walker. 

His favorite memory as a Manta Ray is when MIA beat Warner Christian Academy for their first win in six years and his first football game win ever. Playing football in high school is a dream for Maddox, who absolutely loves the sport of football.

Maddox is excited about his future prospects in life, and hopes he can continue a career in football no matter what it is, even if he isn’t playing himself.

Emma Nash has been a swimmer for 12 years. She has swam competitively on both a club team and in high school. “I started swimming in first grade; I just wanted to be a part of a team, so I joined the club and never stopped.” The senior said when she was asked what made her start swimming.  

Emma, or “Erma,” as her teammates call her, has experienced a lot of ups and downs in the 12 years of being on a swim team. She says that her favorite memory from this sport were the post-meet Panera dinners during high school season. As Emma carries on through her life, she will never forget all the friendship she has made within her club swim team. 

From her pregame rituals of listening to Drake on the ride to the meet and trying to get the best warm-up into zipping up her swim bag one last time, Emma wants to thank her mom for always supporting her, and her dad and grandparents for sacrificing their time to her. ”Most importantly, I want to thank my coach for seeing what I am capable of even when I couldn’t see it myself.” 

Emma shared a piece of advice for any undeclassmen: “You’re going to have bad and good meets; it’s normal… Treat each practice as a time to get better and improve. Enjoy every second because it goes by so fast.” 

Layla Platt has been a part of the MIA varsity cheer team for 3 years and brings her upbeat energy and humor to every game and practice. On the team she serves the position of a flier. Layla decided to do the sport, because when growing up in England, she had a dream to be a part of an American cheerleading team, which also makes sense why her nickname on the team is “The Brit”. 

Her favorite memory on the cheer team is when the football team won their first game in years, and everyone ran to the field together to celebrate. Before each game, Layla loves to blast music in Ayleen’s car on the way to each game to get hyped up! 

Layla’s inspiration is her entire team that encourages her to perform at her very best, and the ways in which everyone motivates each other, even on the worst days. She would like to give a special thank you to Coach Joy and Coach Gutty, also her parents for giving her constant support 24/7.

Throughout her years at MIA, some advice she has gained to give to future cheerleaders is to always “stay committed to everything you do and perform”. Layla also stated, “always be your own biggest fan, because persevering through difficult moments is important and strengthens your character”. 

Alyssa Polanco is a senior at MIA and has been a part of MIA’s Varsity Cheer team since her freshman year. Alyssa serves as a base and a flier for the team. Alyssa has been named “Peanut” throughout her cheer journey, because she is under 5-foot. 

Alyssa joined the cheer team because of “the bonds that she has formed with the team and the coaches”. She says that this team is her “second family”. Alyssa has made many memories throughout these four years, but her favorite memory is when, “the away game got rained out and they went to the gym with the other cheer girls. They danced and had a lot of fun bonding together.” 

Alyssa’s pregame ritual is going to Dunkin and getting avocado toast with Celeste Forester. This senior finds her inspiration through her mom that always pushes her to do her best. Her advice for underclassmen is to, “Just try it even if you’re not the best at it because you will get better. You will also make so many good relationships in the end.”

Cade Scarnavack has been a part of MIA’s Varsity Football team since his freshman year. When Cade first moved to Florida, his father introduced the sport to him, and he decided to give it a try. Cade ended up really enjoying it and played through his whold high school tenure. Cade remarks that his favorite memory playing football was breaking the losing streak they had in his junior year.

Cade’s best advice he can give to others wanting to try the sport is, “Stick with it. No matter how good or bad you are, you’ll get better at the sport in time. Also, MIA needs a larger football team so don’t quit on it.” 

After high school Cade does not plan on pursuing football but he does want to thank all of his coaches for teaching him the game of football and the lessons he learned that will help him in life.

Skylar Siems has spent the past 3 years of high school, as a cheerleader on MIA’s Varsity Cheer team. Skylar aka ‘Syklar’, a nickname given by Layla Platt after a mis-spelled water bottle incident during last season, joined the team because of her admiration of being part of a team and love of bringing spirit to our school. 

Skylar has shown great strength and determination by serving the role of a backspot in stunts. The coaches and entire team think very highly of Skylar because of her constant perseverance. Skylar is part of the glue that keeps this team together.

Some of Skylar’s fondest memories from cheer is when she performed the “Soulja Boy dance” at different events, and flying in her favorite stunt group sophomore and junior year with bases Karina Baldwin, Jenna Golec, and Ayleen Abin. Skylar’s pre-game ritual is to blast hype music in the car on the way to every game.

She would like to thank her mom and friends who have supported her along the way unconditionally by attending the games, and being her personal cheerleader! Some words of advice from Skylar is to “Push through every obstacle, even when things get tiring so you are able to perform your very best every time”. 

Helen Totten has been swimming for five years in total. Helen swam for two years in middle school and three years in high school. Helen decided to join the swim team so that she could be in the presence of her friends. She has made many memories throughout the years, but her favorite memories are “going out to eat after the meets and eating so much good food!”

Helens pre-meet rituals are the, “Lely cheers that the team screams with pom poms and cowbells.” Helen finds her inspiration as Dory from Finding Nemo, especially when she says “Just keep swimming”. She would like to thank her coaches and teammates for their unconditional support no matter how she performs at her meets.

Helens says that her advice and wisdom for underclassmen is, “Don’t take it too seriously because swimming is a great sport to be a part of and a great workout.” 

Jessica Vorderstrasse has been swimming for 3 years on Lely’s Varsity Swim team. She was convinced to join by a previous teammate and has continued to swim every season.  

Jessica has made many memories through her 3 years, but she says that her favorite is “The games we played with our past coach. They are always very competitive, which made them so fun.”  

Jessica’s pregame ritual is to chug a Celsius to give her the energy to power through the 2-hour meets. Jessica mentions she will miss the post-meet Panera dinners with her teammates, where they gave her her nickname, “Jizzy.”  

The senior would like to thank Noa Batlle and Emma Nash for being not only her teammates but her “inspirations”. She would also like to thank Caelan Burt, a previous teammate, for introducing her to the sport and always supporting her.  

Jessica shared a piece of wisdom for the underclassmen: “Just keep going. Even if the sets are very challenging and make you throw up, it’ll be worth it when you see your times improve.” She mentions not to be too hard on yourself, especially if you do not plan on continuing the sport in college.