The Guaranty Bank Athlete of the Week for April 24-May 1 is three-sport athlete Taylor Wood.

A stalwart on the volleyball and basketball court, Wood has been embarking on her first year as the goalkeeper for the defending district champions Eagles soccer team. 

Wood and the Eagles went on the road and took down Springfield rivals Kickapoo and Glendale in key district and conference matchups last week. On a rainy evening (April 24), she shut out the Chiefs 1-0 and allowed only her seventh goal of the season in Nixa's 3-1 victory against Glendale (April 28).

Nixa's blanking of Kickapoo marked Wood's eighth shutout of the year, which includes a 2-0 performance against Timberland, the No. 3-ranked team in the state. She also blanketed Webb City, Liberty, Republic, Willard, Carthage, and Waynesville.

Wood has quickly learned the position and is a big reason for the Eagles' early success this season. The team has seen just one blemish to its record, Blue Springs South (3-0). She is averaging less than a goal a game in 12 appearances (.583%), and head coach Evan Palmer has never seen anyone catch on like Taylor has in net during his 25-plus-year tenure.

"Taylor Wood is a great athlete and has quickly become a very good goalkeeper. Wood has only played for a little over a month and has learned the position so quickly, which has been amazing. She's made a big impact on the team and is a big reason why we are 12-1 and ranked No. 6 in the state," said Palmer. "Taylor's athleticism with her years of volleyball and basketball experience has made it very hard to score on, and I really haven't seen anyone pick up the position as quickly as she has."

Wood and the Eagles enter this weekend's trip to St. Louis at 12-1 as the No. 6-ranked team with two big tests against top-15 opponents. Nixa faces No. 11 Francis Howell Central (8-4-2) on Friday, and the defending Class 3 state champs and top-ranked team now in Class 4, Cor Jesu Academy (10-1).

Following the St. Louis trip, the Eagles close out the regular season with four contests against Springfield Central (May 6), Lebanon (May 7), Ozark (May 8), and Neosho (May 14). The proceeding week is the Class 4 District 5 tournament, where Nixa begins its title defense and more than likely be the top seed.