Bulls’ squads also score high
By Kyle LoJacono
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) released its Academic Team Champions for spring sports, which include baseball, softball, boys weightlifting, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field and flag football.
Teams with a combined grade point average (GPA) higher than 3.0 were ranked against others within the same classification. Of the seven spring sports Sunlake High competes in, six made the list. The only other area school with teams making the cut was Wiregrass Ranch High, which had five squads represented.
“At Sunlake we are very fortunate to have great teachers who are also great coaches,” said Russ Schenk, Seahawks’ athletic director. “Most of our coaches use some type of study hall system and give student-athletes the opportunity for individual tutors when needed. Student-athletes also have the opportunity to go to tutoring if needed.”
Wiregrass Ranch athletic director David Wilson said the story is similar with the Bulls’ teams.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of our athletes,” Wilson said. “They work hard on and off the playing field, courts and track. All of our coaches set high expectations for our student-athletes and we follow through with tracking them, encouraging them and getting them help if needed.”
Wilson is also the Bulls boys tennis coach which won a Class 3A regional championship this year while also posting a 3.604 GPA, higher than any other area team.
“My tennis boys are just very talented on the court and in the classroom,” Wilson said. “I have not had to set any special rules for them. I think the competitive nature of this group makes them be competitive in the classroom as well.”
Wilson added Wiregrass Ranch has several teachers who volunteer their time as academic coaches.
Flag football is only offered in Hillsborough County and no area team qualified. Boys weightlifting is only a sport in Pasco County.
Sunlake and Wiregrass Ranch teams on the list include:
Baseball
Wiregrass Ranch had the seventh highest GPA for 4A program at 3.216. No other area team made the list.
Softball
Sunlake topped all area schools in 4A, posting a 3.398 GPA, the eighth highest in the state. Wiregrass Ranch came in 20th with a 3.156.
Boys weightlifting
Sunlake finished in third in 1A, the highest placing of any squad on the list. The Seahawks posted a 3.019 GPA. No other area team made the list.
Boys tennis
The Wiregrass Ranch squad had the highest overall GPA of any area program on the list at 3.604. That was good enough for the fourth highest 3A program in the state. Sunlake’s squad posted a 3.377, which was the ninth best in 2A.
Girls tennis
The Seahawks team had 3.530, the 14th highest in 2A. The Bulls put up a 3.529, good enough for 11th best in 3A.
Boys track and field
Sunlake was the only area team on the list. Seahawks athletes combined for a 3.194, the sixth highest in 3A.
Girls track and field
The Bulls finished with the 11th best GPA in 3A, combining for a 3.431. Sunlake’s 3.204 had the 20th highest GPA in 3A.
-For more information on Academic Team Champions list, visit www.fhsaa.org.
