Patch March 28, 2019 BY: Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Hillsborough and TBT Students Awarded ‘Athlete of the Week‘ Awards by Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Tampa, FL – Mar. 28, 2019 – Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI) is excited to announce Aija Williams-Cole and David Negron, from Hillsborough High School and Tampa Bay Technical High School respectively, as the ‘Athletes of the Week’ for the week ending March 29th, 2019.
Williams-Cole, a junior Hillsborough soccer player, was nominated by head coach Stefanie Zimmerman for being an incredible asset to the team and establishing herself as a foundation of support.
“Aija is the player that coaches are thankful to have the opportunity to work with,” Zimmerman said. “She is both talented and a natural leader on the field. She is, by far, an incredible player who not only plays her position, but works to have the stamina to support other players in their positions as well.”
Alongside striving to become a better soccer player, Williams-Cole takes priority over her academics in an effort to make the principal’s honor roll.
“I have really been trying to receive all A’s this semester,” Williams-Cole said. “Organizing myself more in and out of school will help put me in the right direction and help me stay on top of my work schedule. I was running into motivation problems with completing my assignments ahead of time. I think it’s important to keep a planner to keep track of things that need to be done. It always helps to think back to my coach who passed earlier this year because I know he would want me to succeed.”
A senior wrestler at Tampa Bay Tech, Negron was nominated by head coach Edward Bayonet for his constant drive for improvement of himself and his teammates.
“For over two years, he ended most of his matches on his back with a loss,” Bayonet said. “But he continued to push forth and strive to be better than he was the match before. This season, he stepped up as captain and motivated all the athletes around him, advancing further than anyone else ever had on our team. David will forever be one of the great Titans this squad ever had.”
Negron set his sights on becoming more of a leader to his team and being able to give them the level of support that all teams should have.
“I’ve seen a lot of improvement in myself within my four years of wrestling,” Negron said. “I want my team to feel the same way I did when I first joined the team my freshman year. I want to show the team that giving up is not an option and that we expect more from them.”
Both Williams-Cole and Negron took a more personal approach to advice for other athletes, advising them that self-improvement may be the key to all-around success.
“Not everything will work out,” Williams-Cole said. “That is why it’s important to make the best of every situation you’re in.”
Negron finished with “Only you can get to yourself. Be the best you can be every day of your life.”
Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Athlete of the Week campaign is designed to focus on student-athletes, recognizing them for their hard work and dedication both on and off the field. The Athlete of the Week award can be earned by displaying one of the following characteristics:
Team Player: Athletes who are nominated for excellence in team play are chosen by a coach who feels the athlete does his or her best to put direction into action, makes a significant contribution to the team and continuously works to improve his or her skills, attitude and training.
Leadership: Athletes who earn the award in recognition of excellent leadership must exemplify strong relationship building skills, show excellent initiative and serve as role models for his or her peers.
To view last week’s award winners, please follow this link.
Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Founded in 1989, Florida Orthopaedic Institute is Florida’s largest orthopedic group and provides expertise and treatment of orthopedic-related injuries and conditions, including adult reconstruction and arthritis, chiropractic services, foot and ankle, general orthopedics, hand and wrist, interventional spine, musculoskeletal oncology, orthopedic trauma, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, sports medicine, shoulder and elbow, spine and chiropractic services, among others. The organization treats patients throughout its surgery centers in North Tampa and Citrus Park, two orthopaedic urgent care centers in South Tampa and Brandon, and 9 office locations in Bloomingdale, Brandon, Citrus Park, North Tampa, Northdale, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, Sun City Center and Wesley Chapel. For more information, please visit: FloridaOrtho.com and ‘like’ us on Facebook: facebook.com/Florida.Orthopaedic.Institute.
