NDN Athlete of the Week winner from Feb. 17-22: Barron Collier lacrosse player Alex Vanover

Each week during the school year the Naples Daily News selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to [email protected] and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on naplesnews.com and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. The winners of the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Elevate Home Services receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. To get to know our winners better, the Naples Daily News will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete weekly.

The Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services for Feb. 17-22 was Barron Collier boys lacrosse player Alex Vanover. To be nominated, Vanover logged 10 goals, 5 assists, and 12 ground balls in Barron’s 3-0 week against Aubrey Rogers, Palmetto Ridge, and Cardinal Gibbons.

Question: How early did you get into lacrosse? What drew you to the sport?

Vanover: I started in seventh grade. I stopped playing baseball and decided to try lacrosse.

Previous Winner: NDN Athlete of the Week winner from Feb. 10-15: Palmetto Ridge basketball player Evan Adams

What’s been a highlight of your lacrosse career thus far?

Vanover: The highlight of my career has been growing up with the same group of guys for the past four years and finally seeing how well we all play together.

Do you have any routines or rituals you do before a game?

Vanover: For a pregame routine, I’m listening to music and drinking Smartwater with electrolyte power.

Is there a lacrosse player you look up to or enjoy watching?

Vanover: (Former Notre Dame standout) Pat Kavanagh, because even though he’s lights out shooter he always looks to make the extra pass first and be a feeder before a shooter.

What sport would you play if you weren’t playing lacrosse and why?

Vanover: I’d play baseball because it was what I grew up playing in the spring.

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.