Collier County All-Stars: Get to know Golden Gate's Eslynda Bouzi

Each month Collier County Public Schools select district high school All-Stars to recognize for being leaders on and off the field of play or for being up-and-rising stars. The Naples Daily News will sit down with some of these student-athletes so you can meet the county's honorees.

Eslynda Bouzi is a sophomore at Golden Gate where she runs track and plays basketball. Bouzi recorded personal bests in the 200 (26.75), 400 (1:03.81), and long jump (15' 6") for the track team after posting 13.5 points per game for the Titans on the court. The Naples Daily News sat down with the standout underclassmen to learn more about her.

Question: What's been your favorite memory at Golden Gate so far?

Bouzi: I would have to say was last year when we played and we beat [Lely] by one point. it was just that everybody in the game battled really hard. Yeah. And Lexi [McGill] hitting the buzzer beater that whole day was probably my favorite memory.

What's an athletic accomplishment you're most proud of?

Bouzi: It had to be when I hit a personal record of, I think it was 22 points in a game. I had never hit that, I don't remember who we played but I was a freshman.

What are some challenges you've overcome that have helped you grow?

Bouzi: I had a game back-to-back, and I was upset about how we played in the first game. And having to bring myself up and give myself motivation to keep going and play another game. I had to tell myself good things and that it was just one bad game. It helped a little bit but it was still hard because we lost that game.

What's something you've learned as a two-sport athlete that has helped you outside of sports?

Bouzi: I'd have to say it's balancing all your life with just being a student-athlete, with going to school and making sure you have time for double practices a day. And I think everything has to do with just a mentality thing. Being strong mentally because yes, you could do everything physically but if you're not mentally there then you're just gonna go downhill. So on the weekends if I don't have a tournament or track meet, I take time for myself to relax and reset that day of the week for my practices and just putting it on the schedule. And then just making sure I'm mentally good.

What advice would you give to incoming varsity athletes?

Bouzi: I'd say it doesn't just come. It doesn't just come, you have to work for it. You have to put in the time and effort to want to be great and to want to do good for yourself because nobody else will get you there but yourself. And as well as just believe in yourself. Like any validation should just be within yourself. And anything that anyone has to say, it does not matter because I heard a lot from my years of playing sports, but none of that matters.

Do you have a favorite class or subject?

Bouzi: I'd have to say it's world history. I get to learn about everything globally, how [things] have changed from long ago to get us to where we are now. Or why a country is how it is today or how a leader got to power.

Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals?

Bouzi: I would just say that I'm a believer of God. That's the only way I do anything. So just praying, praying before a game, praying after a game, praying for even the opposite team to make sure they don't have any injuries even though that is the opponent. So it's just praying and just putting God first.

What's you're go-to pregame music?

Bouzi: Sometimes it'll be Lil Baby. It's not motivational, but it just gets me hyped up for competition. It just gets me going.

Do you have a favorite pro athlete or team?

Bouzi: I'd say Angel Reese right now, even though Caitlin Clark is up there, I still have to say Angel Reese for basketball. I just love her game and everything in it, I just love how she plays. And I think for track, [Sha'Carri Richardson] has like one of the records for track, she's really good.

What do you normally eat before a game?

Bouzi: I'll eat before, but I try to go for something small or light so it's not just sitting in my stomach. I drink a Gatorade with a little sandwich with no cheese just ham. But afterwards, I'll eat whatever.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Get to know Golden Gate's Eslynda Bouzi