Hello Doggymom39, welcome to the Quiltingboard ! I don't post very often, but I check in everyday. I'm not familiar with the Athena 2000, but I had a very short time trying out a Singer Heavy Duty. I'm not a "quilter" but I sew everyday and my projects are usually bags with thicker, multi-layers and other large projects. Now it is of course face masks.
In December I was frustrated with the machine I had. It is a good machine but not designed for sewing the things I was sewing. I still used it for eight years, before selling it at the beginning of last month.
I tried the Singer Heavy-Duty because the name alone sounded like it was exactly what I wanted and needed. I was not happy with it. It was incredibly loud, the foot controller only had high speed (could have been a one-time lemon), and the throat was very small. I got it at Walmart, so I was able to return it with no trouble.
Just my two cents, but I just wanted to tell you my experience with it.
Good luck and welcome to the Board.
Carol