HOW WE SELECT THE ALL-AREA TEAMS
At the conclusion of each high school season, The News-Press staff sends area coaches a nomination form to select and rank players for our all-area first teams and to also nominate athletes for second team and honorable mention. A combination of The News-Press’ research and the coaches’ player rankings lead to the teams being selected and three athletes being named finalists for player of the year. The three finalists are invited to The Southwest Florida Sports Awards to be held Wednesday, May 23 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, where a player of the year for each will be announced along with other honors. Former Major League Baseball player John Kruk will be the featured speaker. Tickets for the event can be purchased at sportsawards.news-press.com.
Player of the Year Finalists
Shani Idlette
School: Fort Myers
Year: Junior
Highlights: The 2017 Player of the Year finalist was 11-2 during the regular season, going undefeated in the area, and was a District 3A-11 champion at both No. 1 singles and doubles. She reached the Class 3A semifinals where she lost in a 10-8 tiebreaker.
Emily Javedan
School: Canterbury
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: The reigning Player of the Year went a combined 17-1 at No. 1 singles and doubles, winning a District 1A-10 No. 1 singles championship. She lost in the Class 1A state semifinals.
Marina Lombardo
School: Bishop Verot
Year: Junior
Highlights: The 2017 Player of the Year finalist posted a 14-4 record this season, winning the District 2A-12 No. 1 singles title. She was instrumental in regional wins over Bradenton Bayshore and Cape Coral pushing Verot to state as a team.
First team
Ava Lyon
School: Fort Myers
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Lyon was 11-1 at No. 1 singles, going undefeated in Lee County, and taking district runner-up honors. She teamed with Shani Idlette to win a district doubles title, but couldn't compete at state due to injury.
Rachel Weaver
School: Cypress Lake
Year: Junior
Highlights: Weaver was the District 2A-12 runner-up at No. 1 singles.
Second team
Bruna Barros, Cypress Lake
Gabrielle Magnant, Bishop Verot
Laura Moreno, Cape Coral
Reina Plancher, Fort Myers
Aubrie Sherman, Estero
Honorable mention
Bishop Verot: Kerry Dowdle, Gabriella Martinez
Canterbury: Anna Sofia Diaz, Caitlin McCartney
Cape Coral: Ana Dieng, Bailey Klein
Estero: Amy Belliveau
Evangelical Christian: Alex Luehrman, Indi Patel
Fort Myers: Alexandra Dorofeev, Gabriella Mazzorana
Gateway: Sophie Morris
Ida Baker: Jensen Diggs, Mary Jo Ellis
Lehigh: Alexis Green, Sabrina Rhau
Mariner: Nicole LaMora, Cydney Rentsch
North Fort Myers: Marlaina Dzierzanowski, Erin Post
Riverdale: Ashleigh Lucas, Miranda Persaud
South Fort Myers: Kaila Cannon, Cristina Fray
SFCA: Amanda Higginbotham, Campbell Severance
Coach of the year
Mary Gibson
School: Bishop Verot
Highlights: Gibson led the Vikings to a District 2A-12 runner-up finish, but the team excelled in regional play. Verot dispatched Bradenton Bayshore 4-1 in a regional quarterfinal and then took out district foe Cape Coral 4-1 in a regional final to punch the team's ticket to the Class 2A state championships. It fell to Plantation American Heritage in the first round at states.