Marco Do-It-All Freshman Honored as CCPS District All-Star 

Marco Island's Marco Munera isn’t your average 14-year-old freshman just trying to adjust to high school life. Quite the contrary; Munera is a do-it-all all student-athlete who excels at everything he tries, whether it's swimming, football, piano, or maintaining a high academic standard. Proof positive of his early success, Munera is being honored as a Collier County Public Schools District All-Star for October, just two months into his high school career. 

"Marco’s a very dedicated athlete,” said Mark Sanon, underclass head football coach for the Trojans. “He wants to always compete at a high level.” 

According to their website, CCPS "honors and celebrates remarkable individuals as district all-stars for their unparalleled skill, relentless drive, and undeniable passion for their sport." 

Munera is a living example of the African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child. The freshman has been positively influenced by a number of members of the community, including his Marco Island YMCA swim coach Kamal Farhat,  his piano teacher Anne Marie Delcompare, his drum coach Drew Conner, and his middle school band teacher Martie Miller. 

Munera was even named for the island he lives on. 

"We named him while we were walking on the beach,” said Juan Munera, Marco’s father. "My uncle was named Marco Antonio. We wanted a Spanish/American name, and, yes, the fact we live in Marco Island had a say in it. He claims this is his island." 

Though Munera was chosen as a district all-star because of his success on the swim team, he also plays football and performs the tenor quads in the Lely marching band. Tenor quads are a set of four marching tenor drums, known for their unique sound and challenging playability. Munera also plays saxophone in the school’s jazz band. 

On the football field, Munera’s 6’5” height makes him a great target as a wide receiver. He’s also being used at defensive end and kicker. And he may not be done growing. A recent trip to an orthopedic physician for an ankle sprain revealed that his growth plates are still very separated, suggesting he is likely not finished growing. 

Farhat coached Munera for ten years at the Y pool on Marco. 

“In reality, it’s him,” Farhat said of Munera’s aquatic success. “He likes to achieve a lot. That’s why I always expect more from him because he can rise up. I think he can achieve even more.” 

Sanon says Munera is more than just an athlete. 

“He is ultra caring,” Sanon said. “He’s still growing, still trying to figure himself out. He’s still very, very young. But he’s very eager to learn and very eager to grow. That’s something that’s very impressive. And he’s a student that is involved in swimming, band, and football in the same season. I’m very impressed that he’s able to do that and hold together. You know the future is bright for him. And as long as he continues to stay in a positive mindset, you know the sky’s the limit for him. I’m very impressed with where he’s been and his progression. The only thing that I can say is we’ll probably be seeing him do something really big in the future, before we know it. He’s worked out a deal where he’s swimming and coming to football. He's just doing a lot of things very impressively. And he’s a very humble kid. You can't say enough about him. All you can do is continue to see him, watch him grow, and continue to clap for him.”