Each week during the school year, the Naples Daily News will select players who stood out from the previous week based on a combination of coaches reports and school nominations sent to sports@naplesnews.com and our own coverage. These athletes will be voted on every Monday on naplesnews.com, and readers can vote for who they think worked the hardest. Winners of the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week voting sponsored by Elevate Home Services will receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. To learn more about the winners, Naples Daily News will conduct weekly Q&A sessions with each athlete.
From September 30th to October, he was named the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Elevate Home Services. Fifth place went to Naples swimmer Nathan Edwards. Mr. Edwards received 10,034 votes (66.58 percent). Edwards was selected to represent Napoli at the CCAC meet, winning the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, achieving a double crown.
Question: When did you start swimming? What attracted you to the sport?
Edwards: I’ve been swimming since I was 5 years old and I started because I was looking for a sport to participate in. Eventually I landed on swimming and never left. I enjoyed being in the water and I liked competing with other people.
What has been the highlight of your swimming career so far?
Edwards: Making state for the first time last year was a highlight of my career. Because it was something I worked for for a long time and narrowly missed out on my freshman year.
Do you have some sort of pre-meeting routine?
Edwards: Usually before a game I eat some kind of food that replenishes my energy and gives me extra benefits. Coffee beans are usually consumed to provide caffeine. And recently, one of my teammates got hooked on Pedialyte, which helps with hydration.
Previously: CSN’s Sienna Audrey, winner of NDN Athlete of the Week by Elevate Home Services, September 23-28
Are there any U.S. or international swimmers you admire or like to watch?
Edwards: One of the swimmers I really like to watch is (France’s) Leon Marchand. He’s such a force in the races that it’s always fun to watch him race and break records, especially in Paris this summer.
If you weren’t swimming, what sport do you think you would have participated in?
Edwards: If I wasn’t swimming, I would probably throw the discus or javelin. I used to participate in these field competitions when I was in junior high school, and I really like sports that challenge me continually to improve my scores and personal records.
