Schoolcraft selected Breeze 2025-26 Reader’s Choice Athlete of the Year
The votes have been tallied, and after a tight race, the Breeze Newspapers’ 2025-26 Reader’s Choice Athlete of the Year is Austin Schoolcraft of Island Coast High School .
The senior was a major contributor to the Gators’ 25-4 record, which included a District Championship and trip to the FHSAA Regional Semifinals.
Schoolcraft led the team in home runs, slugging percentage and extra base hits, batting .407, and was second on the team in hits and RBI.
Schoolcraft was arguably the team’s ace on the mound, pitching to a 2.24 ERA in 11 appearances (nine starts). He struck out 58 batters across 50 innings pitched, allowing just 28 hits. He threw two complete games, including a no-hitter.
This year’s nominees alongside Schoolcraft were: Kaliyah Williams of North Fort Myers High School; Austin Kluener of Bishop Verot High School; Kelsi Longabardi of Mariner High School; Bennett Sweitzer of Bishop Verot High School; Jaelyn Hoefer of North Fort Myers High School; Jermaine Skinner of Cape Coral High School; and Nikolas Korf of Ida Baker High School.
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