FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2004


Ten valedictorians, 12 three-sport athletes top 2004 FHSAA Academic All-State Team

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association is pleased to announce the 2004 FHSAA Academic All-State Team, which features 10 valedictorians and 12 three-sport athletes, including one four-sport and one five-sport athlete.

This year, twenty-four student-athletes are being honored from the more than 240 qualified nominees from the Association’s 607 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 at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during each of 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 24 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year, one boy and one girl, will be announced at the 10th Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet to be held Friday, June 11 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 10th Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Team are:

Girls

• Katherine Booth, Lake Mary – Katherine is the daughter of William Booth and Kathy Staub. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked second in a senior class of 584 students. Katherine earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Yale University in New Haven, Conn. and will study bioengineering.

• Rita Borelli, Cedar Key – Rita is the daughter of Michael Borelli and Patricia Jett. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 25 students. Rita earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country and track & field her junior and senior years, and also holds three letters in volleyball and two in softball. She plans to attend Florida State University in Tallahassee and will study marine biology.

• Bonni Carney, Northeast (St. Petersburg) – Bonni is the daughter of Robert and Sandra Carney. She has a 3.98 grade point average and is ranked third in a senior class of 293 students. Bonni earned varsity letters in volleyball and flag football her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. and will study education.

• Timra Clemmons, Bethlehem – Timra is the daughter of Tim and Myrtle Clemmons. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 53 students. Timra earned varsity letters in basketball and softball her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Chipola College in Marianna and will study nursing.

• Devin Gapstur, Martin County (Stuart) – Devin is the daughter of Jeffrey and Linda Gapstur. She has a 3.85 grade point average and is ranked eighth in a senior class of 545 students. Devin earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study medicine or biology.

• Callie Jett, Santa Fe (Alachua) – Callie is the daughter of Dan and Melanie Jett. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 233 students. Callie earned varsity letters in basketball and track & field her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study special education.

• Cecilia Kolstad, Chaminade (Hollywood) – Cecilia is the daughter of Lon and Cecilia Kolstad. She has a 3.96 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 200 students. Cecilia earned varsity letters in volleyball and soccer her junior year, and volleyball and flag football her senior year. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study medicine.

• Margo Lyon, Coral Springs – Margo is the daughter of James and Nedra Lyon. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked second in a senior class of 734 students. Margo earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field her junior and senior years, as well as soccer her freshman year. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pharmacy.

• Rachel McKenzie, Fernandina Beach – Rachel is the daughter of Patrick and Anita McKenzie. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 336 students. Rachel earned varsity letters in softball and swimming her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and will study Spanish.

• Sarah Ruff, Rocky Bayou (Niceville) – Sarah is the daughter of Michael and Christine Ruff. She has a 4.0 grade point average. Sarah earned varsity letters in soccer, softball and volleyball her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study mathematics.

• Brittany Weeks, Haines City – Brittany is the daughter of Steve and Debbie Weeks. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked fifth in a senior class of 430 students. Brittany earned varsity letters in softball and volleyball her junior and senior years, as well as having earned a varsity letter in basketball. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study physical therapy.

• Summer Weissing, Olympic Heights (Boca Raton) – Summer is the daughter of Andrew and Lynne Weissing. She has a 3.57 grade point average and is ranked 81st in a senior class of 581 students. Summer earned varsity letters in volleyball and flag football her junior and senior years, as well as track & field her senior year. She plans to attend Florida State University in Tallahassee and will study communications.


Boys

• James Burleson, Keystone Heights – James is the son of Gene and Judi Burleson. He has a 3.89 grade point average and is ranked fourth in a senior class of 170 students. James earned varsity letters in basketball and tennis his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Stetson University in DeLand and will study marketing.

• Michael Casper, Merritt Island – Michael is the son of Jim and Judy Casper. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 415 students. Michael earned varsity letters in basketball, football and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. and will study industrial and labor relations.

• Matthew Chandler, Plant City – Matthew is the son of Lee and Suzanne Chandler. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked second in a senior class of 456 students. Matthew earned varsity letters in baseball, cross country and soccer his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa and will study criminology.

• Ryan Dobbertien, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) – Ryan is the son of Mark and Lisa Dobbertien. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 47 students. Ryan earned varsity letters in basketball, soccer and track & field his junior and senior years, as well as having earned a varsity letter in cross country. He plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and will study engineering.

• James Fins, Varela (Miami) – James is the son of Francisco Fins. He has a 3.83 grade point average and is ranked 25th in a senior class of 1,200 students. James earned varsity letters in baseball and football his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study prelaw.

• Brock Forrest, St. John Neumann (Naples) – Brock is the son of Alan and Anita Forrest. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 74 students. Brock earned varsity letters in football and track & field his junior and senior years, as well as having earned a varsity letter in soccer. He plans to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. and will study biology.

• Benjamin Gordon, Dr. Phillips (Orlando) – Benjamin is the son of Peter and Ellen Gordon. He has a 3.94 grade point average and is ranked 14th in a senior class of 880 students. Benjamin earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Columbia University in New York City and will study psychology.

• Keith Knowlton, Lakeland Christian – Keith is the son of Kevin and Lois Knowlton. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 65 students. Keith earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. and will study medicine.

• Albert Matheny, Oak Hall (Gainesville) – Albert is the son of Albert Matheny III and Jane Adair. He has a 3.68 grade point average. Albert earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study exercise physiology and medicine.

• Andrew MacLean, Mosley (Lynn Haven) – Andrew is the son of Scott and Marcia MacLean. He has a 3.88 grade point average and is ranked 29th in a senior class of 487 students. Andrew earned varsity letters in baseball and football his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study engineering.

• Ryan Truchelut, Trinity Prep (Winter Park) – Ryan is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Truchelut. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 125 students. Ryan earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. and will study science.

• Ryan Wisnoski, Crescent City – Ryan is the son of Alan and Victoria Wisnoski. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 88 students. Ryan earned varsity letters in baseball, football and weightlifting his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. and will study biomedical engineering.


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