During the school year, every week the Naples Daily News shines a light on exceptional athletes. This selection is based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports@naplesnews.com and our extensive coverage. These athletes then find themselves in a poll each Monday on naplesnews.com, where our readers get to vote for who they believe performed the best.

The Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week Sponsored by Elevate Home Services

December 2-7: Immokalee Soccer Player Yoel Barrera

In a highly competitive 5-way race, Immokalee soccer player Yoel Barrera emerged as the winner, capturing an impressive 49.04 percent of the votes. To secure this nomination, Barrera showcased his skills by scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists in a remarkable 3-0 week for the Indians.When asked about his early introduction to soccer, Barrera shared, "I got into soccer at the age of three. What drew me to the sport is that all my siblings played soccer as well, and my dad was a soccer coach. It was like a natural progression for me."Regarding a highlight of his soccer career thus far, Barrera mentioned, "Scoring multiple goals off corner kicks has been a standout moment. There's something special about that skill and being able to contribute in that way."On his pregame routine, Barrera said, "My pregame routine is listening to music before soccer games. It helps me get in the zone and focus on the game ahead."When asked about a soccer player he looks up to or enjoys watching, Barrera replied, "The soccer player I look up to and enjoy watching is Kevin De Bruyne. He plays center attacking midfield, and his creativity with passes and willingness to take risks is truly inspiring."Finally, if he wasn't on the soccer pitch, Barrera expressed his interest in lacrosse. He said, "If I wasn't playing soccer, the other sport I would partake in is lacrosse because it looks very fun and there is a bit of contact in the sport. It's a different challenge that I think would be exciting."