Collier County All-Stars: Get to know Lely lacrosse player and weightlifter Tabatha Ubertaccio

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.

Tabatha Ubertaccio is a senior at Lely, where she plays lacrosse and competes as a weightlifter. Ubertaccio, who led the Trojans lacrosse team in goals scored this year, also placed runner-up in the 110-pound traditional lift at the Class 2A-District 14 meet, and finished ninth in regionals while earning a bid to states. She also maintains a weighted 5.0 GPA while taking dual-enrollment, AP, and AICE courses. The Naples Daily News sat down with Ubertaccio to learn more about her.

Question: What is your favorite memory at Lely?

Ubertaccio: My favorite memory would have to be my sophomore year, back when my sister and I played together. Because we were playing Estero, and it was a very tight-knit game, it was very much back and forth. And I had made a goal that tied the game up. And then right afterwards, my sister made the game-winning goal and that's one of our favorite memories together.

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

Ubertaccio: My proudest accomplishment would have to be hitting 100 solo goals this year. I feel like it was special because in my freshman year I was a defender, so obviously I wasn't going to get any goals but I did end up getting three. And then my sophomore year and my junior year, I was kind of like the underdog of the rest of the girls on the team. And then this year, it was really nice to go out there, just really go out and play the game and play the way that I love it. And that was my goal for the season and I ended up getting it, it was a great accomplishment.

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What are some challenges you were able to overcome?

Ubertaccio: One of the things that I had faced was balancing my schoolwork and my athletics because I am a part time dual-enrollment student, and I take full AICE classes and AP classes as well. And the past three years I had taken all those classes, and then this year, I'm actually ranked seventh in the class. So keeping up with my grades and stuff was a challenge, but I did get the time to balance them both.

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

Ubertaccio: I really learned self-discipline, and being able to be more independent and basically learn the hard way that if you don't remember something, or if you don't devote the time to something, then you will face the consequences. So it's good to balance things out.

Do you have a favorite class or subject?

Ubertaccio: So my favorite class is definitely AICE PE this year because our teacher [Mr. Greenwood] in that class is amazing. He's really a great teacher because he came from being an EMT to then coming and teaching the class, and the way he teaches and stuff is just amazing. The class is really hard, because it's like a medical class, you have to learn all the muscles and bones, movements and all of that. And the way he taught, it was just amazing and he always made each day fun and interactive with each other. So nobody came to class dreading going there. Everybody was always excited to go to class.

Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?

Ubertaccio: Something I always had before each game was two things: I always played the song 'Jump', because my sister started that tradition and I always just carried it through, and then I would always have a Celsius right before the game.

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What does a normal pre-game meal look like?

Ubertaccio: I always did this because I'm crazy, but like before every single game ever since my freshman year, I've always eaten a bowl of pasta right before I left the house. Basically anything. It can go from like spaghetti, fettuccine, butter noodles - you name it, I ate it.

Do you have a favorite athlete or team?

Ubertaccio: I would have to say Maryland with their lacrosse team. Because their girls are really good. Specifically Libby May. I really look up to her because she's such a good athlete. I would have to say her drive [is what I emulate], especially because her dad used to be the Barron Collier coach. And he has helped give me the guidance of how she has such a drive in lacrosse.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County District All-Stars: Get to know Lely's Tabatha Ubertaccio