The News-Press and the Naples Daily News have been honoring the individual accomplishments of area athletes for decades through our Athlete of the Week polls. Now we want to start honoring the collective talents of area sorts programs.
The Southwest Florida sports team is proud to honor area high school sports programs with our inaugural monthly Top Teams list and poll.
At the beginning of each month during the high school competitive seasons, The News-Press and Naples Daily News will select the teams that stood out the month before for their stellar achievements, grit, and sportsmanship. Once we compile the list, we will leave it up to you to decide which squad deserves to be named the Southwest Florida Top Team that month.
Nominees are derived from scores and stats emailed by Lee and Collier county area coaches to sports@news-press.com or sports@naplesnews.com. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit a nomination by the last day of each month if they have a team that deserves recognition.
Voting for the Southwest Florida September Top Team will run until 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13 at news-press.com and naplesnews.com.
Here are the Top Team nominees selected for their performances from Sept. 1-31.
Vote in the poll below or click HERE to see poll.
Southwest Florida Team of the Month nominees
Barron Collier Girls Swimming: The Cougars won the Tarpon Invite with their swimmers winning four individual events and the 400 free relay.
Cape Coral Football: The Seahawks went 4-0, beating Bonita Springs, Island Coast, Estero, and Charlotte to extend their undefeated streak to start the season.
Cape Coral Girls Swimming: The Seahawks came in second at the Tarpon Invite and first at the Pirate Invite, where the team placed first in two relays and two individual events.
Cypress Lake Football: The Panthers went 4-1, including a four-game win streak against Fort Myers, East Lee County, Riverdale, and Estero. Cypress Lake handed Fort Myers and Riverdale their first losses of the season.
Estero Volleyball: The Wildcats posted an 8-3 record, and the team has defeated all Southwest Florida competition they have faced this season.
First Baptist Volleyball: The Lions went 13-1 and won their second straight Private 8 title with a straight-sets win against Bishop Verot.
Gulf Coast Volleyball: The Sharks went 14-4 and won the CCAC title with a straight-sets win against Aubrey Rogers.
LaBelle Football: The Cowboys went 4-0 to stay unbeaten on the season. Their wins included shutouts against First Baptist and DeSoto County.
Oasis Girls Cross Country: The Sharks won the Fort Myers XC Invite and placed sixth in the North Port XC Invite in the Girls Elite 5K division — the top placement among area schools.
Naples Boys Cross Country: The Golden Eagles won the Fort Myers XC Invite and placed third in the Spanish River XC Invitational.
Naples Boys Swimming: The Naples boys captured the Tarpon Invite title after finishing first in two of the relays and winning the diving event.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Vote for the Southwest Florida Top Team for September from Collier, Lee and LaBelle
Reporting by Dustin B Levy, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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