Male Athlete of the Week
In only his first season playing soccer for Ida Baker, sophomore Nick Presti has helped lead the Bulldogs’ offensive attack, as well as their turnaround.
After winning two games last season, the Bulldogs (8-7-1) are enjoying their best season. It continued with a 2-0 victory over Estero last Friday.
“We’ve just been working really hard together,” said Presti, the Daily Breeze Male Athlete of the Week. “(My teammates) have helped me grow as a player and I’ve helped them, we just work off of each other.”
Presti has been a consistent performer from the start of the season. He moved to Cape Coral last summer from New York, but acknowledged the team bonded well together in preseason workouts, and that has continued during the season.
“We’re basically like a family,” he said.
Presti has done most of his damage offensively. He has 12 goals and seven assists. Not one to shy away from an open shot, he has registered 109 shots.
“He has lightning fast speed and really hits those holes (in the defense),” Bulldogs coach Mick White-wood said of Presti’s play. “He’s not afraid to crack a shot.”
Presti, a forward, has shown the ability to finish. One of his key goals came in the Bulldogs’ 1-0 victory over Cape Coral Jan. 12. He buried a header late in the second half, giving the Bulldogs their first ever win over their city rivals.
Though the team has achieved one goal of becoming more competitive against District 5A-15 opponents, they still believe there is room for improvement.
Presti is one of the outstanding young players, who figures to lead them the next few years.
“We’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg,” Whitewood said.
The Bulldogs continue their season with a pair of road matches at Cypress Lake Tuesday and at South Fort Myers Wednesday.
Honorable mentions:
Brennen Melvin, senior, Bishop Verot basketball: Melvin, a senior, scored 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the Vikings’ 63-41 win over Cardinal Mooney Friday.
Zach Sheffield, senior, Cape Coral soccer: Sheffield tallied two goals as the Seahawks defeated Riverdale 4-1 Friday.