FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2007


Six valedictorians, 17 three-sport athletes top 2007 FHSAA Academic All-State Team

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association is pleased to announce the 2007 FHSAA Academic All-State Team, which features six valedictorians and 17 three-sport athletes, including one four-sport and two five-sport athletes.

This year, twenty-four student-athletes are being honored from the more than 150 qualified nominees from the Association’s 650 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 $1,000 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 13th Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet to be held Thursday, May 31 at the Orlando Airport Marriott. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the most prestigious honors conferred on an active student-athlete by the Association, will receive an additional $3,000 each, as well as a trophy.

The members of the 13th Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Team are:

Girls

• Caitlin Greskovich, Pensacola Catholic – Caitlin is the daughter of Frank and Carla Greskovich. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in a senior class of 165 students. Caitlin earned varsity letters in soccer and track & field all four years of high school, as well as cross country her first three years. She plans to attend Amherst College in Amherst, MA, and study pre-medicine.

• Kali Hunter, Fort White – Kali is the daughter of Mike and Brenda Hunter. She has a 3.66 grade point average and is ranked 13th in a senior class of 139 students. Kali earned varsity letters in softball and volleyball all four years of high school, and also earned three letters in soccer and two letters each in track & field and weightlifting. She plans to attend Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, FL, and study physical education.

• Ilona Juan, South Dade (Homestead) – Ilona is the daughter of Antonio and Patricia Juan. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a senior class of 464 students. Ilona earned varsity letters in basketball and volleyball all four years of high school, as well as track & field her freshman and sophomore years. She plans to attend Columbia University in New York City and study pre-medicine.

• Shaina Kelly, Dreyfoos (West Palm Beach) – Shaina is the daughter of Ken and Judy Kelly. She has a 3.95 grade point average and ranks 33rd in a senior class of 300 students. Shaina earned varsity letters in soccer and track & field all four years of high school, as well as cross country for three years. She plans to attend Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, where she will study geophysics.

• Jamie Loud, Jupiter Christian – Jamie is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Loud. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a senior class of 64 students. Jamie earned varsity letters in soccer all four years of high school, as well as three letters each in volleyball and track & field. She plans to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando and study hospitality management.

• Ana Marichal, Oak Hall (Gainesville) – Ana is the daughter of Eduardo and Nidza Marichal. She has a 3.97 grade point average. Ana earned varsity letters in track & field all four years of high school, as well as cross country and soccer in her junior and senior years and volleyball her freshman year. She plans to attend Yale University in New Haven, CT, and study pre-medicine.

• Tawny Najjar, Bradenton Christian – Tawny is the daughter of Drew and Susan Najjar. She has a 3.87 grade point average and ranks second in a senior class of 45 students. Tawny earned varsity letters in basketball all four years of high school, and also earned three letters in track & field and two in cross country. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and study pre-physical therapy.

• Kathryn Ostrander, Leesburg – Kathryn is the daughter of Ted and Gail Ostrander. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a senior class of 370 students. Kathryn earned varsity letters in tennis all four years of high school, as well as soccer her sophomore, junior and senior years and cross country her freshman and sophomore years. She plans to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and study pre-medicine.

• Cara Richards, Melbourne Central Catholic – Cara is the daughter of Richie and Donna Richards. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks fourth in a senior class of 129 students. Cara earned varsity letters in golf and soccer all four years of high school. She plans to attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, and study English.

• Brittney Scott, Academy at the Lakes (Land O'Lakes) – Brittney is the daughter of Jerry and Stephannie Scott. She has a 3.86 grade point average. Brittney earned varsity letters in softball all four years of high school, as well as three letters in volleyball, two each in track & field and weightlifting, and one in basketball. She plans to attend Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, and study public and international policy.

• Jacqueline Sullivan, Palm Harbor University – Jacqueline is the daughter of Chris and Jeanne Sullivan. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a senior class of 420 students. Jacqueline earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field all four years of high school, as well as soccer her freshman and sophomore years. She plans to attend the University of Miami and study pre-medicine and biology.

• Celeste Thacker, Osceola (Kissimmee) – Celeste is the daughter of Clarence and Jo Thacker. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks second in a senior class of 442. Celeste earned varsity letters in softball all four years of high school, as well as three letters in volleyball and one in weightlifting. She plans to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and is undecided on her choice of major.

Boys

• Matthew Brown, Palm Harbor University – Matthew is the son of Terry and Jean Brown. He has a 3.96 grade point average and ranks 23rd in a senior class of 420 students. Matthew earned varsity letters in swimming & diving and track & field all four years of high school. He plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, and study pre-medicine.

• Daniel Bush, Arnold (Panama City Beach) – Daniel is the son of Dennis and Maureen Bush. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks fifth in a senior class of 308 students. Daniel earned varsity letters in wrestling and track & field all four years of high school, and also earned two letters in football and one in weightlifting. He plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA, and study mathematics.

• Benjamin Gillenwaters, St. John Neumann (Naples) – Benjamin is the son of Bill and Julie Gillenwaters. He has a 3.8 grade point average and ranks fourth in a senior class of 57 students. Benjamin earned varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track & field all four years of high school. He plans to attend either Florida State University in Tallahassee or the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and study engineering.

• Andrew Gordon, Dr. Phillips (Orlando) – Andrew is the son of Peter and Ellen Gordon. He has a 3.94 grade point average and ranks 14th in a senior class of 769 students. Andrew earned varsity letters in swimming and water polo all four years of high school. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and study humanities.

• Lorn Hillaker, Flagler Palm Coast (Bunnell) – Lorn is the son of Brenda Jacobs. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks second in a senior class of 647 students. Lorn earned three varsity letters in cross country and two in track & field. He plans to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and study history.

• Jamie Koepsel, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) – Jamie is the son of Ronald and Elizabeth Koepsel. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks fourth in a senior class of 127 students. Jamie earned varsity letters in football all four years of high school, as well as three letters in baseball and two in weightlifting. He plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, and study business administration.

• Brad Lowery, Jay – Brad is the son of Richard and Jenny Lowery. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks third in a senior class of 80 students. Jay earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball and football all four years of high school. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and study pre-medicine and athletic training.

• Derek Miller, Auburndale – Derek is the son of Dennis and Jennifer Miller. He has a 3.9 grade point average and ranks second in a senior class of 300 students. Derek earned varsity letters in baseball and soccer all four years of high school. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and study business management.

• Weston Palmer, Hardee (Wauchula) – Weston is the son of Steve and Jennifer Palmer. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a class of 261 students. Weston earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball and football all four years of high school, and plans to attend Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, and study pre-medicine.

• Steven Raymond, Titusville – Steven is the son of Mendi Raymond. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks sixth in a senior class of 364 students. Steven earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field all four years of high school. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and study pre-medicine.

• Grant Sieron, Bolles (Jacksonville) – Grant is the son of Mark and Robyn Sieron. He has a 3.57 grade point average. Grant earned varsity letters in baseball and football all four years of high school. He will attend Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, and study economics.

• Bret Voith, Gulliver Prep (Miami) – Bret is the son of John Voith. He has a 4.0 grade point average. Bret earned varsity letters in swimming and water polo all four years of high school, as well as bowling his senior year. He plans to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, and study economics and mathematics.

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 700 middle, junior and senior high schools.

Contact:
Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
roberth@fhsaa.org