D1 Fort Myers athlete Anayeli Guzman was featured in The New York Times Upfront magazine for something more than just her athletic skill.

Guzman, a high school junior, currently has an NIL deal with D1 Fort Myers. She receives free workouts and D1 Training gear in exchange for promotional videos on her social media.

Guzman said the deal came from her continuing to show up and see results from D1's classes.

But with the costs piling up, Guzman couldn't attend as many sessions.

That's when D1 Fort Myers owner Jaylen Watkins approached her with an NIL deal.

“He reached out and mentioned NIL. We kept talking about it and then that's how it came about,” she said. “We talked about terms with posting and brands.”

Now, Guzman can visit D1 Fort Myers as much as she likes.

She said it's helped her improve on the field, helping her become more explosive in the outfield.

“I always had a little stutter step. But then, over time, when I kept working out my mechanics, I started being more explosive,” she said. “They always hold me accountable and tell me certain workouts that help certain muscles.”

Now as she looks towards college softball, Guzman said working out at D1 will give her an edge against the rest of the competition.

“The camps I've been to, they've always said, 'if you're not in the gym, you need to head there right now because once you come to college, you're going to be in the gym 24/7,'” she said. “I'm already in the gym. I'm already working out. I'm already consistent.”

Don't Miss: The Turf!

The newest episode of The Turf: Powered by D1 released this week, featuring guest R.A. Dickey, a former MLB pitcher and Cy Young award winner.

Listen on Apply or Spotify, or watch the YouTube episode below.

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