Ayleen Abin has been an important part of the cheerleading team throughout her high school years. She began cheering her freshman year, joining the team with hopes of being part of something special. Wanting to try something new, meet new people, and experience the feeling of belonging to a team, Abin quickly found that cheerleading became much more than just an extracurricular activity.

From learning new skills to building lasting friendships, cheer has played a major role in shaping Abin’s high school experience. Her favorite skill she learned during her time on the team was performing an extension stunt, which helped her gain both strength and confidence. Preparing for games became a routine she truly enjoyed by grabbing a light snack such as a protein bar, listening to upbeat music, and sometimes even practicing cheers beforehand to get herself warmed up and ready.

When asked about her favorite part of cheer, Abin did not hesitate to say the friendships she made along the way. Beyond that, cheer gave her confidence and strength she never knew she had. Although she doesn’t have one specific favorite memory, she fondly recalls how fun all the football games were, as well as the team’s Secret Santa celebration, which brought everyone closer together.

Abin is incredibly grateful for her coaches, who supported and encouraged her throughout her journey. She expressed her appreciation by saying, “To Coach Gutwerk, thank you for being a great coach and for always pushing us to do our very best. And to Coach Joy, thank you for being understanding and for motivating me to work harder and keep going when things got tough. I’m so grateful to have had you both as my coaches.”

As she reflects on her cheerleading experience, Abin hopes to inspire underclassmen who may be considering joining the team. Her advice is simple but powerful: “Never give up on yourself, even when you feel frustrated or doubt your abilities.” She believes cheerleading helps you discover confidence and strength you didn’t know you had, while also giving you friendships that will support you through anything.

Genesis decided to play soccer because it has always been a part of her life. Growing up around the sport, it naturally became something she was drawn to. After playing throughout middle school, Genesis made the decision to return to the field for her senior year.

What started as simply rejoining a sport quickly turned into an experience filled with growth, memories, and friendships she’ll carry with her forever. Soccer taught Genesis patience and resilience, showing her that not everything comes easily. 

Whether it was learning plays, pushing through tough practices, or facing challenging games, she learned to keep going even when things got hard there is always something rewarding waiting on the other side. 

Her favorite memories are the team’s Christmas Secret Santa dinner and the many car rides to away games with Gracie, where laughter, music, and endless jokes became as important as the games themselves. Wearing her jersey for the final time was bittersweet. Genesis described it as a feeling like a part of her was leaving, not just because the season was ending, but because she was saying goodbye to a team that had become her family. 

Genesis advice for future soccer players to never give up, reminding them that all the hard work truly does pay off in the end. Looking back, she would tell her freshman year self to always keep an open mind, trust the journey, and enjoy every moment on the field. She explains “…it all goes by faster than you think.”

Ava Ball started cheering her sophomore year, encouraged by her friends and family to give it a try. What started as something new and exciting quickly turned into one of the most impactful experiences of her high school career. Cheerleading became more than just a sport, it became a place where Ava grew, learned, and created memories she will carry with her forever.

 Through cheer, she learned the importance of responsibility, commitment, and being on time. Practices and performances taught her how to manage her schedule, stay organized, and show up ready no matter how busy life became.

 Some of her favorite cheer memories were the moments that brought the team closer together, especially the Christmas dance, the festive holiday socks, and all the laughs shared with her teammates. Whether it was preparing for performances, joking around during practice, or supporting one another through challenges. Wearing the cheer uniform for the last time was an emotional experience for her. It was difficult knowing she would no longer be cheering alongside her teammates or learning from the coaches who pushed her to be her best. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but she is incredibly grateful for the bonds she formed and the unforgettable memories. 

Her advice to future cheerleaders is to always try their best and not overthink everything. Growth takes time and learning comes with patience. Cheerleading played a major role in shaping who she is today. It gave her confidence, lifelong lessons, and a second family.

Caleb Berry is a senior at MIA and is best known for being a left back on the Rays soccer team. He has been involved in sports for most of his high school career and has always enjoyed being part of a team. After spending years playing football, Caleb decided about two years ago to try something new, joining the soccer team. Even though soccer was different from what he was used to, he quickly found enjoyment in the sport.

Caleb says his favorite part of soccer is simply kicking the ball and being out on the field. For him, soccer is not only about competition, but also about having fun and making memories with his teammates. One of his favorite memories from playing soccer was winning the district championship last year. This moment stood out as a huge accomplishment not just for him and the team, but also for the school as a whole. It was a moment that brought everyone together and showed how much effort the team had put in throughout the season.

Before each game, Caleb and his teammates take part in a pregame chant. This tradition helps bring the team together and gets everyone focused and energized before stepping onto the field. It also helps build team chemistry and confidence going into the game.

When asked what he would like to say to his coach, Señor Higura, Caleb expressed his appreciation by saying, “Thank you for everything you have given us.” He is thankful for the time, effort, and support that Señor has put into the team and recognizes the impact it has had on him as a player.

 Caleb hopes younger athletes remember that it is always okay to try new things and push themselves, no matter where they are in their journey. He also wanted to leave future underclassmen with a meaningful quote: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

Elizabeth Chiscavage, known as “Lily,” is a driven athlete and one of four captains on this seasons’ winter cheerleading team. She took a brave initiative in being one of the only freshmen to join MIA’s cheer team in her freshman year, falling in love with it and sticking with it until her senior year. 

Having four years of cheer filled her with four years of fond memories that she looks back at for a smile whenever she’s down and forming new friendships that she still holds to this day. She started cheerleading for the desire to make new friends and get more connected within the school to show everyone just how much spirit she has. Ever since she held pom pom’s for the first time, she has learned an abundance of new skills that she never thought she would before. These skills don’t only better her cheerleading, but also affect and shape her daily life. 

Within all the skills that she’s learned, her favorite and most consistent has been being a backspot. The backspot is the most important part of the whole group, providing stability and a sense of leadership within the little pod. Being there to keep the beat and rhythm of the counts, Lily makes sure that the stunt goes up and that her flyer doesn’t fall. 

Before games, Lily likes to get her hair done by one specific person on the team: Her best friend Bianca Fernandes. They have gotten into a routine where Bianca puts her hair up into a perfect, neat ponytail that Lily explains “..stays throughout the whole game.” Besides her advanced cheerleading skills, her favorite part about cheerleading is spending time with all her teammates, who are basically like family. The strong bond that she has created with her fellow cheerleaders has made every practice and game go by in a flash, having too much fun to make time go by slowly. 

She would especially like to thank her coach, “Gutty,” by saying, “thank you for everything and for being the best coach I could’ve ever asked for. 

After her whole high school career, it was definitely difficult for Lily to pick just one favorite memory that she has comes from her most recent year, when the cheerleading team got “punished,” as she puts it, having to yell the word “pumpkin” while running laps around the field. 

Now, as the season comes to an end, Lily will pack her uniform and her poms, handing them in one last time while looking back at the gym to remember all the times she went out to cheer on that court. Counting her last “5, 6, 7, 8,” and helping her flyer down for her final stunt, the advice she would like to give future cheerleaders or underclassmen is: “Don’t be afraid to try out for anything, it might be your best decision.”

For the past four years, Meghan Donaldson has been a member of the Marco Island Academy girls soccer team. This sport has become a huge part of her life, helping shape who she is today. Through countless amounts of practices, games, traditions, and different memories, soccer became a place for Meghan to not only shine, but become a leader. 

Meghan’s favorite part about playing soccer was spending time with her teammates on and off the field. Whether they are in practice or spending time together off the field, the bond this year was special. Some of her favorite memories happened off the field. One moment that still stands out to Meghan was a car ride to a game when a construction worker kept turning back and looking at the team. Creating jokes that lasted the whole ride. Moments like this, became memories she will never forget.  

Pregame traditions were a huge part of the team’s success and chemistry. Singing together before games helped everyone get ready to play. Stopping by Mr. Ray’s office to get a snack any chance they got. These small traditions brought the team closer together. 

Meghan would also like to give a huge thank you to her coach, Mr. Ray. His belief in the team made a huge impact on Meghan. He never gave up on his players and he helped give the team hope throughout the season. 

As this chapter closes for Meghan, she leaves with different lessons that she will always take with her. Her piece of advice that she gives to underclassmen is “Your amount of effort determines your outcome, so keep showing up and working hard.”

Bianca Fernandes, also known as “Binka” by her close friends and teammates has not only been a part of one, but two sports during this winter season. Striving to achieve high above others, she rose to captain of both cheer and basketball. Her passion for basketball began as early as eighth grade and she began cheerleading her sophomore year of high school. Balancing her after-school time between these sports for the past two years. 

Fernandes could not be more grateful about getting to be a part of these sports. She claims they have not only brought her unforgettable moments but have also taught her the true meaning of leadership. She owes this to her coaches to whom she expressed her gratitude by stating, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this team and trusting me to be a leader.” These sports have not only taught her great life lessons but they have also given her life long friendships. In fact, when asked what her favorite part of the sport was, she did not think twice before answering, “my teams”. What most people would consider teammates, Fernandes considers them as best friends. 

These friendships have given her what she believes to be some of her favorite memories. Whether it’s driving to basketball games with her basketball teammates or getting to annoy her cheerleading coach, Gutty, she expresses how special those moments were for her. But her favorite ones of all would be game-prep memories. Fernandes and her teammates find it best to have a snack right before a game in order to have endless energy during games.

She is now spending her last few moments dribbling the ball on the court and flying high during cheers as a senior. Saying goodbye to the sports that watched her grow will not be easy for her. Before leaving she has left some inspiring words for those who would like to try-out for these sports: “Don’t be shy or scared to try new things because those new things may be the best thing that could ever happen to you.”

Mathis Fontes is a Varsity player for the Marco Island Academy boys basketball team. He has been playing his sport for a total of four years, ever since he started high school. Mathis loves the thrill of playing basketball with his friends and how intense it can really be. He enjoys playing for a team, especially, and everything that comes with it.

Mathis Fontes has had lots of memories with the team within his four years. However, his favorite memory by far is getting his first dunk. He remembers the excitement of finally realizing he could jump just enough to dunk the ball. His favorite part was being able to show off to his friends whenever he wanted. However, it did not just happen overnight, Mathis had to put in lots of hard work and dedication to achieve this feat and become part of the 1%.

Mathis likes to keep his pregame ritual and traditions simple. He likes to start off by having a healthy meal and listening to some music. He then decides to pray for the game and show love for his family and friends. Mathis would like to thank both Coach Watt and Coach Chesser for putting in their all to help the team and make him a better player overall. He would like to thank them specifically for helping him finish around the rim and become a better team player that can change a game around.

Mathis has been a critical part of the basketball team and has really given it his all in making sure we are doing our best to improve and play as a team. Mathis would like to leave the team with this quote, “Learn to have short term memory, always focus on the next play, don’t worry about a missed shot”

Luca Garcia-Perfecto is one of Marco Island Academy’s stars on the varsity basketball roster as a Point guard and Shooting guard. He has been a part of the team for three years now, since the summer of his Freshman year.

His favorite part of the sport beyond slam-dunks and lay-ups is the sense of community and brotherhood from being part of a team. He has a tight-knit bond with his teammates and cherishes the fun memories he’s made with them across his high school career.

His best memories about basketball come from a trip to an NBA game with his previous coach, Coach Jim Watt. While watching the Denver Nuggets play the Charlotte Hornets, Luca was amazed by Nikola Jokić, playing center for the Nuggets, scoring 32 points with ease, but disappointed due to the absence of LaMelo Ball, the Point guard of the Hornets. “The game showed me just how good NBA players are,” he commented. 

Before his games, you can find Luca honing his skills and absorbing the inspirational lyrics of his favorite music artist, Drake. Out of a playlist consisting of 212 tracks, his personal favorites are: “Tried Our Best”, “Feel No Ways”, and “Look What You’ve Done,” all of which are by Drake.

An experienced and renowned member of MIA’s basketball team, he attributes his personal success to the advice and dedication of his coaches over the years. He extends deep gratitude towards Coach Jim Watt, “…for coaching me throughout my first years ever playing basketball,” and thanks Coach Eric Chesser for teaching him to “play with the team and be more versatile.”

Now, Luca is closing-out his senior year. By June, he will be turning in his jersey and packing his bags for Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, with aspirations to later transfer into the University of Florida. Enjoying these last months at MIA, his words of wisdom for any underclassmen in MIA basketball is that “Defense wins championships.”

Aubrey Guidry is a veteran player for the girls’ Varsity Soccer Team. She has been playing soccer since the 7th grade. She began her journey playing at Marco Island Charter Middle School. However, she took a break from soccer in 11th grade to focus on tennis. Since then, Aubrey continues to make memories and friendships every day as she brings her fiery, hardworking spirit to the field. 

When asked about her favorite part of soccer, Aubrey said,  “I like that I’m with other people who enjoy playing soccer as much as I do. It gives me a sense of community and a break from my schoolwork.”

After five years of playing soccer, her favorite memories are scoring a goal off a corner kick as a defender and attending many of the team’s Christmas and Secret Santa parties. At every party she attended, you could find her making memories, bonding with her teammates, and eating food.

As for pre-game traditions, Aubrey spends her time stretching to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself and getting snacks before each game from Mr. Ray, with Honey Stickers being her favorite. After she gets loaded up on energy, Aubrey spends the rest of her time before the game on the mezzanine catching up on her assignments so she does not come home late with a pile of unfinished assignments.

For the many years of playing soccer, Aubrey would like to thank Mr. Ray for his time and dedication to making the team better every day. She is truly grateful for Mr. Ray’s genuine care for every single team member.

Now, with less than a year left of school, Aubrey will have to turn in her final soccer uniform and transition into her military uniform as she will be attending West Point after high school. Her future advice to upcoming players and underclassmen for MIA is: “If you want to make a difference, start by making your bed.”

Gracie Johnson is a senior at MIA and a dedicated captain on the girls’ soccer team. Throughout her 4 years at MIA, Gracie has been a passionate and consistent member of the soccer team, showing leadership on and off the field. She has been playing soccer for an impressive 11 years, and her experience has been obvious every time she steps on the field. As a midfielder, Gracie plays a crucial role in controlling the pace of the game, connecting the offense and defense, and motivating her teammates with her strong work ethic and competitive spirit. Gracie’s favorite part about soccer is the intensity of a close game and the feeling after scoring a goal. 

Gracie thrives under pressure and enjoys the challenge of competing at a high level. She has made countless memories throughout her soccer career. Some of her favorites are when she almost had to fight a lady at a red light on the way to SWFCA, along with her car rides to the soccer games, and every post game Chik-Fil-A talk. Also, last year, when Megan had to hang her socks out of the window so that they could dry before a game.

Gracie’s favorite pregame traditions include team dinners and talking to her teammates on the way to her games. Gracie would like to thank her soccer coach, Mr. Ray. She is so grateful for how much dedication he has put into the team since the team was never cared for so much until this year. She would also like to thank Mr Wood for helping with drills at practice.

A quote Gracie would like to share is “play with a purpose” and “having fun is important, winning just makes it easier.”

Jonathan Juels is a first year player on the soccer team. Jonathan is known by several names such as Jon and JJ. Jon’s position on the field is mainly midfielder, but also plays defense and striker. Although this is Jon’s first year playing with the team, he has quickly shown great progress and has become a key part of the team. Jon’s rapid skill growth shows the hard work and dedication he has put into the team. Jon is a multi-sport athlete and has played football, tennis, and track in the past which has helped with his skills in soccer.

Jon’s favorite part about playing with the team is seeing how everyone tries to push each other to get better and win. His favorite memory of playing soccer is scoring his first goal from the top of the box. As part of his pregame tradition, Jon likes listening to Hawaii: Part II. This helps him mentally prepare himself before every game.

Jon also takes part in school spirit and has shown leadership in clubs and sports. Jon brings bright energy to not only the team but also into the hallways. Whether it is cheering on his teammates or helping out in the community, Jon shows positivity everywhere he goes. As he prepares to move on from Marco Island Academy, he leaves great leadership and heart. Jon has made a huge impact on his peers and will be remembered as a strongly spirited leader.

Jon says that he had a memorable season playing soccer and would like to thank the coaches for putting in so much work to help the team. He wishes his teammates the best for the future. To underclassmen and future students Jon likes to keep it simple but effective and would like to advise that if you “…keep practicing, you will get better.”

Veleon Nazarko is a Varsity player for the Marco Island Academy boys basketball team. He has been playing his sport for a total of four years, ever since he started high school. Veleon loves the thrill of playing basketball with his friends and how intense it can really be. He enjoys playing for a team, especially, and everything that comes with it.

Veleon Nazarko has had years of memories related to the team, however, only one stands out to him. His favorite memory was when the team went to go watch an NBA game in North Carolina. His favorite part of the game was being able to see how good the NBA players were in person, he was enthralled by their raw ability for the sport. He also enjoyed going bowling in North Carolina with the team as well.

Veleon Nazarko is a very traditional player, as he likes to keep his pregame rituals and traditions simple. Veleon enjoys having a good meal and listening to some music to get him ready to play at his full capabilities. Veleon would like to thank Coach Watt for developing his skills, not only as a basketball player, but as a man as well. For the past three years Coach Watt has really helped sharpen his abilities. Veleon would also like to thank Coach Chesser for pushing him to new heights he never thought he would reach.

After high school Veleon plans to take his studies to the University of Florida with his brother. Lastly, Veleon would like to leave the team with words of encouragement, “Keep practicing and putting in that work, you never know what you can achieve when you really put your mind to it”. He especially sends this message to the younger guys as they have many years to improve and make the program better.

Alina Nguyen has been a key part of winter cheer since her sophomore year. Alina is a flyer and was promoted to a cheer captain this year. Alina always brings a vibrant, contagious energy to the sport, performing to the best of her abilities no matter what. 

Her favorite memory from this season is from the “Pumpkin run”, where Coach Gutwerk punished them by making them yell “PUMPKIN” while running laps because on the bus ride home from a game, they kept yelling “PUMPKIN.” Alina describes cheer as “a sport where I can be myself and have fun while doing.”

Alina’s inspiration comes from Celeste Forester and Alyssa Polanco, two MIA alumnae who graduated last school year, “..because they showed great leadership, and that is what I aspire to do.” Alina’s advice for underclassmen and upcoming high schoolers is, “Don’t be afraid to be who you are, because it might just make you your best friends”. 

A quote that resonates deeply with Alina is 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This quote encapsulates Alina’s outlook on life and what means the most to her. 

Alina is grateful for every season of cheerleading and the love and support from her parents and her coaches. Although this is a bittersweet goodbye, there is no other activity that Alina would rather be involved in.

Jordan Rodden has been a proud member of the Manta Ray’s basketball team since his freshman year. Ever since he started playing in the sixth grade, he has loved the sport ever since. Over the years of playing as a manta ray, Jordan has made so many friendships and memories with his teammates that he will never forget. Every day on the court was a whole other adventure.  Jordan’s favorite thing about playing basketball is having fun with his teammates every practice, making friends, and the competitive aspect of the game.

When asked about his favorite memory of playing basketball for the school, Jordan said, “I always remember each time our team wins a game, it grows the team’s bond, and I love the energy afterwards.”

Before each game is about to start, you can find Jordan in the locker room with his headphones blasting Rihanna to get him pumped up. This unique tradition started his very first time driving to his game. When asked about why he does this he said, “ I always ride with teammates and it makes a better relationship and memories with the team and friends. Rihanna is an artist that everyone likes to get hyped up and have a good time.”

After all four years of playing at MIA, Jordan would like to thank his coaches for all their support and care over the years. They were there for him with all of his struggles and always made sure he was safe and healthy.

Now, with less than a year left of school, Jordan will have to turn in his final jersey and put on his armor, as he will become a knight when he attends the University of Central Florida after high school. His future advice to upcoming players and underclassmen for MIA is: “Basketball is a mind game. When someone is unfocused, the whole team is uncoordinated. One person can interfere withe whole team. It is important to keep your teammates up to strive.”

Autumn Skubin-Amendola is an inspiring member of the MIA cheerleading team. Joining in her senior year, Autumn is a fresh face on the team, but don’t let that fool you, she’s just as capable as everyone else on the team. With remarkable courage and determination, Autumn proves that it’s never too late to try something new. 

Moreover, her favorite parts of cheer are, without a doubt, cheering at the basketball games, the tree lighting, and the winter parade, enjoying the seasonal events, and the memories she’s made; however, out of all the memories she’s made in cheer, she holds one especially close to her heart: when Coach Gutwerk and Coach Joy told her she had made the team. The reason why goes a bit deeper below the surface than one might expect.

 In Freshman year, Autumn wasn’t as motivated nor as determined as she is now, leaving her in a crestfallen state for not wanting to partake in any sports. This all changed, however, when she was accepted into the team. Actually making the team helped exorcise the undisclosed desires in her heart from Freshman year and, overall, was a very hopeful and transformative moment for her. 

Speaking of hope, Autumn’s pregame traditions usually take a spiritual turn with a prayer circle, only serving to further the camaraderie within the cheer team. One thing that Autumn would like to thank her coaches is for pushing her beyond her limits and making her fully realize what she’s capable of along with how extraordinary she can be when she applies herself. 

Autumn’s advice for the underclassmen is “Practice your sidelines, or else you’re CUT.” She encourages future cheerleaders to work hard and apply themselves, just as she did, and just as she will continue to do.

Jenna Snover has been involved in both basketball and winter cheer for all four years of high school. Throughout her time in these activities, she has made many memories that she will always cherish. Her favorite part of basketball is the strong bond she shares with her teammates and the unforgettable memories they have created together. In cheer, Jenna especially enjoys learning new dances and spending time with her teammates while supporting her school.

Some of Jenna’s best basketball memories come from the long car rides to away games, where the team talked, laughed, and grew closer. These moments helped make the season even more special. Her favorite cheer memory was joining the team her freshman year and discovering a new passion that quickly became one of her favorite parts of high school. Being part of cheer helped Jenna gain confidence and try new things. 

Before basketball games, Jenna looks forward to pregame traditions such as traveling together to away games and enjoying pregame dinner at home. These traditions helped the team stay connected and prepared for games. 

Jenna would like to thank her basketball coaches for always pushing her to be her best and encouraging her to never give up. They taught her to stand up for herself and helped her grow both on and off the court. She also wants to thank her cheer coaches for the many life lessons they have taught her over the years. Cheer has played a big role in Jenna’s high school experience and has helped shape who she is today.

Jenna’s advice to future players and cheerleaders is to always work hard, stay positive, and give your best effort no matter what challenges you face. Whether that be on the court, the field, or in everyday life.

Madelyn Sodergren has been a dedicated member of the varsity winter cheerleading team for the past two years. She has made so many fun memories along the way. One of her favorite parts of winter cheer is getting ready for the Christmas tree lighting and parade. She especially enjoys learning and performing the routines with her team. Especially with the classic red Christmas poms or this year’s pink poms. 

Her best memory comes from performing at the tree lighting and seeing the smiles on all the little girls’ faces while the team performed. Taking pictures in stunts by the big tree and passing out candy to kids during the parade made the experience even more special for her. 

Before games, Madelyn’s pregame tradition is always rushing to Starbucks with Autumn so they’re ready for the night ahead. She would like to thank Coach Joy as well as Coach Gutty for being such amazing coaches who always encourage and uplift her to work hard and be the best version of herself. She is grateful for their patience, understanding, and for being a part of all the great memories she’s made in cheer. 

Looking back on her time in cheer, Madelyn describes it best with “Best two years full of hard work and amazing memories.” As the time comes for her to put her poms away she leaves this for future  MIA cheerleaders “Don’t be afraid to be loud and stand out. Cheer is about energy and confidence. Never dim your light.”