FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2003


Five valedictorians, 15 three-sport athletes top 2003 FHSAA Academic All-State Team

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Activities Association is pleased to announce the 2003 FHSAA Academic All-State Team, which features five valedictorians and 15 three-sport athletes, including four four-sport athletes. St. John Neumann High School of Naples becomes the third school in three years to have both nominees make the FHSAA Academic All-State Team.

This year, twenty-three student-athletes are being honored from the more than 160 qualified nominees from the Association’s 570 member high schools. To be eligible for selection to the team, a student must be a graduating senior, must have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or better, and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during his or her junior and senior years.

Each honoree will receive a $500 award, as well as a commemorative medallion, from the FHSAA for being selected to the team. From among the 23 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year, one boy and one girl, will be announced at the Ninth Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet to be held Friday, June 13 at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel in Tampa. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the most prestigious honors conferred on a student-athlete by the Association, will receive an additional $2,500 each, as well as a trophy.

The members of the Ninth Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Team are:

Girls

• Jenna Ball, Tampa Bay Tech – Jenna is the daughter of Calvin and Cathy Ball. She has a 3.74 grade point average and is ranked fourth in a senior class of 110 students. Jenna earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia and will study business and pharmacy.

• Janelle Braverman, MAST Academy (Key Biscayne) – Janelle is the daughter of Daniel and Coralia Braverman. She has a 3.95 grade point average and is ranked third in a senior class of 132 students. Janelle earned varsity letters in soccer and swimming & diving her junior and senior years, as well as water polo her junior year. She plans to attend Harvard University in Boston, Mass. and will study romance languages.

• Lauren Brown, Trinity Prep (Winter Park) – Lauren is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Brown. She has a 3.98 grade point average and is ranked in the top 5 percent of a senior class of 103 students. Lauren earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and softball her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Harvard University in Boston, Mass. or the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and will study pre-medicine.

• Courtney Gould, Northside Christian (St. Petersburg) – Courtney is the daugher of Glenn and Marilyn Gould. She has a 3.98 grade point average and is ranked second in a senior class of 46 students. Courtney earned varsity letters in soccer and swimming & diving her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. or Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. and will study political science.

• Revae' Breonna Green, Tavares – Revae' is the daughter of Reginald and Jannette Green. She has a 3.92 grade point average and is ranked fifth in a senior class of 217 students. Revae' earned varsity letters in basketball, track & field and volleyball her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study biology/pre-medicine.

• Sara Hall, Plant City – Sara is the daughter of Floyd and Mary Ann All. She has a 3.97 grade point average and is ranked second in senior class of 411 students. Sara earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field her junior and senior years, as well as soccer her junior year. She plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa and will study engineering.

• Jill Lucas, Fort Myers – Jill is the daughter of Brad and Julie Lucas. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked in the top one percent of more than 3,000 Lee County high school students. Jill earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Furman University in Greenville, S.C. and will study health and exercise science.

• Kate McCoy, Pace – Kate is the daughter of Roxie and Kelly McCoy. She has a 3.96 grade point averange and is ranked 16th in a senior class of 365 students. Kate earned varsity letters in softball and volleyball her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville or Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. and will study business or pre-medicine.

• Larissa McDonough, Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) – Larissa is the daughter of Drs. Michael and Daria McDonough. She has a 3.59 grade point average and is ranked 21st in a senior class of 92 students. Larissa earned varsity letters in basketball her junior and senior years, cross country her junior year, and track & field and volleyball her senior year. She plans to attend Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. and will study pre-medicine.

• Christina Schoonmaker, Sebastian River (Sebastian) – Christina is the daughter of Clifford and Debra Schoonmaker. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked fourth in a senior class of 310 students. Christina earned varsity letters in softball her junior and senior years, volleyball her junior year, and basketball her senior year. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina and will study pre-medicine.

• Erin Schreiber, Fernandina Beach – Erin is the daughter of Matt and Jean Schreiber. She has a 3.81 grade point average and is ranked 27th in a senior class of 353 students. Erin earned varsity letters in basketball and cross country her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Jacksonville University and will study music education.

• Amanda Tripp, St. John Neumann (Naples) – Amanda is the daughter of Daniel and Sandra Tripp. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked third in a senior class of 63 students. Amanda earned varsity letters in cross country and softball her junior and senior years, basketball her junior year, and soccer her senior year. She plans to attend Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn. and will study physical therapy/athletic training.


Boys

• Aaron Baila, Jupiter – Aaron is the son of Dorel and Joyce Baila. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked second in a senior class of 388 students. Aaron earned varsity letters in football and soccer his junior and senior years as well as weightlifting his senior year. He plans to attend Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. and will study biomedical engineering.

• Matt Burgess, Satellite (Satellite Beach) – Matt is the son of Michael and Barbara Burgess. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked first in a senior class of 443 students. Matt earned varsity letters in golf and soccer his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa and will study pre-medicine.

• Zachary Burr, St. John Neumann (Naples) – Zachary is the son of Mark and Michelle Burr. He has a grade point average of 3.85 and is ranked seventh in a senior class of 63 students. Zachary earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball and golf his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. and will study hotel administration.

• Adam Kircher, Maclay (Tallahassee) – Adam is the son of Karen Glendenning. He has a grade point average of 3.98 and is ranked first in a senior class of 97 students. Adam earned varsity letters in soccer, track & field and weightlifting his junior and senior years, as well as swimming & diving his junior year. He plans to attend Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. and will study aerospace engineering or economics.

• Chris Komanski, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) – Chris is the son of Walter and Deborah Komanski. He has a grade point average of 3.7. Chris earned varsity letters in cross country and soccer his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. and will study biomedical engineering/pre-medicine.

• Kevin Lyons, Clearwater Central Catholic – Kevin is the son of Gary and Patricia Lyons. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked sixth in a senior class of 150 students. Kevin earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Harvard University in Boston, Mass. and will study aeronautical engineering or pre-law.

• Jonathan Mosley, Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville) – Jonathan is the son of Dr. Mike and Julie Mosley. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked first in a senior class of 33 students. Jonathan earned varsity letters in baseball and soccer his junior and senior years, as well as basketball his senior year. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pre-medicine.

• Brett Orvieto, University (Fort Lauderdale) – Brett is the son of Bradley and Anne Orvieto. He has a grade point average of 3.8 and is ranked in the top 10 percent of a senior class of 113 students. Brett earned varsity letters in basketball and soccer his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Emory University in Atlanta and will study mathematics and business.

• Nick Sanchez, Glades Day (Belle Glade) – Nick is the son of Julio and Judy Sanchez. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked first in a senior class of 38 students. Nick earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball and football his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. and will study business or sports therapy.

• Patrick Weaver, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) – Patrick is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Weaver. He has a grade point average of 3.89 and is ranked fourth in a senior class of 43 students. Patrick earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country, soccer and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Harvard University in Boston, Mass., Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. or Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. and will study pre-dental.

• Tyler Yonge, Vanguard (Ocala) – Tyler is the son of Chip and Dana Yonge. He has a grade point average of 4.0 and is ranked first in a senior class of 359 students. Tyler earned varsity letters in soccer and tennis his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando and will study film studies or pre-law.


Contact:
Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
roberth@fhsaa.org