May 26, 2007: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

NHSCA Announces National All-Academic Team

EASTON, Pa. – The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) today announced its All-Academic Team selections for 2007.

It is the 14th year the NHSCA has honored these achievers in the classroom. This year’s 89 selections include 53 seniors, 22 juniors, 11 sophomores and three freshmen, and come from a record 32 states. They sport an average grade-point average (GPA) of 3.86 on a scale of 4.0, with 26 members of the team earning a GPA of 4.0 or better. Ten members of the squad – seven seniors, one junior and two sophomores – rank No. 1 in their class academically, including twin brothers Aaron and Adam Blomberg, who share the No. 1 senior class ranking at Salem (Va.) Glenvar High.

"The members of this year’s All-Academic Team define what it means to be a student-athlete today," NHSCA associate executive director Joe Boardwine said. "They are leaders both on the field and in the classroom, and we are proud to be honoring them."

The team includes four wrestlers who earned All-America status in this year’s NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships March 30-April 1: Ryan Malo of Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Preparatory School, who finished eighth at 189, Matt Mariacher of Elma (N.Y.) Iroquois High, third at 130, Daniel Waddell of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School, eighth at 160, and Justin Zeerip of Hesperia (Mich.) High, third at 160. Four other senior Academic All-Americans, Joseph Boone of Poway (Calif.) High, Travis Creagan of Cleveland (Tenn.) Bradley Central High, Brent Parks of Hermiston (Ore.) High, and Shay Warren of Ogden (Utah) Weber High, earned All-America honors in the National High School Juniors Wrestling Championships a year ago.

In the underclass ranks, seven members of the squad – five juniors, one sophomore and one freshman – were National High School All-Americans this year. Leading the way was Andrew Wilson (215) of Anchorage (Alaska) East High, the National Juniors champion this year. Timothy Boone (130) of Poway (Calif.) High joined his brother, Joseph, as a National Juniors All-American, finishing fifth this year. Matt Brown (135) of Magna (Utah) Cyprus High finished sixth in the National Juniors after posting a National Sophomores runnerup finish a year ago. Aaron Pickrel (112) of Watertown (S.D.) High finished fifth and Shane Strumwasser (125) of Massapequa (N.Y.) High eighth.

Derrick Borlie (152) of Winchester (Va.) Millbrook High finished seventh in the National Sophomores competition and Ryak Finch (103) of Safford (Ariz.) High finished third in the inaugural National Freshman competition, also taking home that event’s Most Falls award.

Michigan had eight selections to lead this year’s squad, followed by Massachusetts and Tennessee, with seven each. New York and Virginia each had six selections, followed by Louisiana (five) and California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland and Missouri (four). To be considered for selection, an athlete must carry a GPA of 3.4 or better (on a scale of 4.0), be a state tournament placewinner or have received All-State honors.

Following is the NHSCA’s 2007 All-Academic Team, listed alphabetically by graduating class.

Class of 2007
(excerpt only)

Shay Warren (Utah): Four-time Class 5A state champion finished 42-0 at 125 pounds for coach Jody Warren at Weber High School; career record 156-5. Earned 4.0 GPA, scored 30 on the ACT, and ranks No. 1 in a class of 560; will attend Harvard University.

The NHSCA selects Coaches and Senior Athletes of the Year in 20 boys and girls sports, and sponsors more than two dozen national championship events in 11 sports. The 18th annual National High School Wrestling Championships attracted nearly 2,300 wrestlers from all four grade levels to Virginia Beach, Va., and the NHSCA conducted 16 championship events in Virginia Beach, Va. last summer. The NHSCA, in partnership with the NFL Coaches Association, conducted the National High School Football Coaches Convention in conjunction with U.S. Army All-American Bowl All-Star Game. For a complete list of this year’s programs and events, visit the NHSCA’s web site at www.nhsca.com.

Founded in 1989, the National High School Coaches Association is a not-for-profit 501c3 service organization providing support and leadership programs for the nation’s 500,000 high school coaches and 10 million high school athletes.