Athlete of the Week: Natalya Palazzolo, Windermere High golf

As a sophomore, Windermere High’s Natalya Palazzolo, is making her presence known on the girls golf team this season. 

Windermere won first place in its recent Orange Lake Legend tournament Thursday, Sept. 11. The team defeated Olympia and West Orange in the nine holes played. Palazzolo led the team by shooting 37 on a par 30, and by doing so, she won the tournament overall. Palazzolo surpassed her season average of 42.3 during the tournament. 

Windermere is the defending Metro West Conference champions and placed second in the Metro Orlando Conference championship last fall. 

THE BASICS 

Age: 15

Sport: Golf

Grade: Sophmore

School: Windermere High 

How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week?

I’m very honored to be named this. It definitely shows just how far I’ve grown over the years.

What do you enjoy the most about golf?

I enjoy putting a lot; it’s a very mental part of the game, and you have to be deadly accurate for the ball to go in. It’s probably the hardest part about golf, so it’s very rewarding when you make a long putt.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from golf?

I’ve learned to stay in the moment. I’ve gotten worked up over past shots before, but when I forget about blow-ups, I can recover quite well. 

What is your favorite golf memory?

My favorite memory is my hole-in-one. I was playing with a bunch of friends, and the guy that hit before me made a hole-in-one. I hit right after him and didn’t realize I made my shot, so we were all congratulating him, and when we walked up, he found two golf balls in the hole. We were all super excited that two people made back-to-back hole-in-ones on the same hole.

Who is your favorite athlete?

Tommy Fleetwood is my favorite athlete. I try to emulate how he swings.

What is your go-to pre-round meal?

My go-to pre-round meal is a lunch-meat sandwich about 10 minutes before the round. 

What is your go-to pre-round hype song?

“Lemonade” by Forrest Frank is my favorite pre-round song.

What is your favorite non-sports hobby?

My favorite hobby is crocheting.

What is your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject is math.

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

I would bring flint and steel, a water filter, and a hunting knife. Although, I could bring a boat, but that defeats the purpose.

What is your favorite movie?

“KPop Demon Hunters” is my favorite movie.

If you could have dinner with one person — dead or alive — who would it be?

I would have dinner with Arnold Palmer. He’s a really cool guy, and I would love to have the chance to have a chat with him.

If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, when and where would you go?

I would travel to the Paleolithic era, because we don’t know much about them. I would like to learn their beliefs and customs of hunter/gatherer humans.

Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to let go of the little things and not care as much.

If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?

I would ask my future self what the world is like and if I still enjoy what I do today.

Who is your favorite superhero?

My favorite superhero is Black Widow. Considering her backstory, she totally should be a villain but was able to come back. She’s also an inspiration for me to become as strong as her.

Who is your favorite supervillain?

My favorite supervillain is Joker. He’s a really funny guy and always pulls off the most insane and funny stuff.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would have the power of morphing. I could change my appearance at will, and I think that’s an amazing concept.

Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Pineapple does not belong on pizza; it’s supposed to be savory.