The girls and boys track and field teams and the boys varsity volleyball team have each received the Central Coast Section (CCS) highest academic honor by the California Interscholastic Federation: “2016-17 Spring Season Scholastic Championship Team Award.”
These three teams were honored as having the highest collective scholastic average among all CCS teams in their respective spots during their seasons of competition. Congratulations to our scholar athletes! Congratulations to these scholar athletes!
The girls track and field team members are: Bella Bettencourt and Caroline Smith, 12th grade. The boys team members are: Devyn Powers, Isaac Harris, Param Walker, 12th grade; Noah Kaplan, 10th grade; Noah Tervalon, 9th grade.
“Our second season with the track and field team was one of learning and a lot of fun for our athletes, [coach] Sara [Sobkoviak], and me,” commented coach Jenne Miranda Rodrigues. “With five seniors competing this year, they led the team during practices and meets, keeping everyone engaged and the energy up. Though our squad was smaller than last year, the athletes competed in nearly as many events as last year and all of our athletes achieved personal records, some a few times during the season. Sara and I ended the season proud of our athletes for both their integrity and athletic performance, as well as the academic accomplishment of the scholastic team award!”
The members of the volleyball team are: Nate Vince, 12th grade; Brigg Busenhart, Carl Ward, Jordan Willis, Lucas Caudill, Zachary Clark, Zachary Wagner, 11th grade; John Dias, Luca Peruzzi, Sage Turner and Samith Lakka, 10th grade.
“Our boys varsity volleyball team had a great season this year,” said team coach and high school athletic director PK McDonald (’04). “We experienced tremendous support from students, friends, family and alumni all year. We competed through a tough schedule and showed an incredible amount of growth through this adversity. Some highlights were taking PCS to the brink at home, finishing second in the Aptos Battle of the Bay Tournament, and making the CCS semifinals by beating a good Sacred Heart Cathedral team, while upsetting a strong Branham team on the road.
“This team has developed an incredible amount of resilience in their ability to bounce back from adversity,” he continued. “Looking back it was clear that this team has had a special year, worked hard all season, and did a great job on the court and in their studies – and now has the honor of being 2017 CCS academic champions. Thanks for all the support that made this possible!
These awards were instituted by the CCS Board of Managers in 1985 as a way to recognize the top five teams with the highest collective grade-point average in their respective sport during that season of competition.
Earlier this school year, the MMS girls cross country team also earned this distinction (for the second consecutive year).
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Contact: Leigh Ann Clifton, Director of Markting & Communications,
Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.
