Advertisement

Rotary Club names Fort Myers' Julia Knowler and Mariner's Christopher Minto top scholar-athletes

Dustin B Levy, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read

In his sophomore season at Mariner, Christopher “Tophy” Minto won his first of three state wrestling titles. The same year, Julia Knowler led Fort Myers to a state softball championship.

On Monday, Minto and Knowler were named the male and female Scholar Athletes of the Year at the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards and were presented $5,000 scholarships. The event honored 41 Lee County high schools male and female student-athletes for achievements in the classroom and athletics.

Minto was dominant in his high school wrestling career, winning three state titles and going 55-0 in the 2021-22 season. He will graduate with a 3.47 GPA and has spent time volunteering wrestlers at the Mariner Youth Wrestling Club.

“Extremely grateful,” Minto said of the honor. “It felt pretty good.”

For the Full List of Nominees: Meet the 41 Lee County seniors nominated for 37th Annual Rotary South Scholar Athlete Awards

The accolades for Knowler piled up in a standout 2021 season where she was named Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, Florida Class 5A Player of the Year and Florida Dairy Farmer’s 5A Player of the Year. She has continued that dominant form while maintaining a 3.71 GPA and volunteering with Cape Coral Girls Fastpitch and Fort Myers American Little League.

Knowler also earned a state weightlifting championship this season.

“It feels amazing,” Knowler said. “I’m really grateful. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s a great honor, even just being nominated with all these other tremendous athletes.”

Student-athletes are honored at the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards on May 15, 2023.
Student-athletes are honored at the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards on May 15, 2023.

The Mitchell Family of Pool Pros, Inc. presented Minto and Knowler with the awards.

The program also saw 14 student-athletes earn $1,500 scholarships:

  • Brittany Curley, Cypress Lake, sponsored by Zvada

  • Denelson Estimable, Dunbar, sponsored by Zvada

  • Marsha Foreman, Bonita Springs, sponsored by Mallett

  • Lucas Habash, Cape Coral, sponsored by Mallett

  • Kayah Bonilla-Mas, South Fort Myers, sponsored by FP&L

  • Charles Michel, Fort Myers, sponsored by Huff Family

  • Ezarya Dale, Dunbar, sponsored by Millennium Physician Group

  • Emilio Gonzalez, Island Coast, sponsored by Eartronics/Hooper

  • Breona Ruark, Gateway, sponsored by Edison Bank

  • Luke Buzzelli, Ida Baker, sponsored by Rotary Club

  • Avery Brincat, Island Coast, sponsored by Rotary Club

  • Matthew Bohl, Cypress Lake, sponsored by Rotary Club

  • Jaclynn Mars, Oasis, sponsored by Rotary Club

  • Thomas Martin, Gateway Charter, sponsored by Rotary Club

Knowler and Minto will continue their athletic careers at the next level – Knowler will play for Clemson, while Minto will wrestle for the University of Nebraska.

Student-athletes are honored at the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards on May 15, 2023.
Student-athletes are honored at the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards on May 15, 2023.

“New competition, definitely,” Minto said. “It’s going to be pretty awesome wrestling kids from other states every other weekend.”

Knowler, however, has a chance to extend her high school athletic career when the Fort Myers softball teams travels to face North Fort Myers in the regional semifinals on Tuesday.

“I’m very excited for tomorrow,” she said. “They’ve beat us twice this season, but nothing better than a comeback. Just ready to play.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers' Julia Knowler and Mariner's Christopher Minto named top scholar-athletes