How smart do you have to be to play sports? You might think that it takes more brawn than brains to play a game, but Culver City High School runs a high standard for their athletes. The rankings in the annual California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section-Ford Academic Awards program were announced at the CIF-SS Office recently. The team awards, based on a cumulative grade point average, are awarded in 22 sports. Entries from 1,787 teams were received this year.
To be considered, teams must have a minimum 3.0 GPA average (4.0 scale) in college-prep courses in the first semester of the 2014-15 school year. The highest team GPA in each sport determines the winner. Schools are divided into two enrollment categories, 1,500 and above and 1,499 and below. The team with the highest GPA in each enrollment category for each sport receives the award. The first place teams receive a banner to commemorate their achievement. All teams who participate receive Academic Award certificates for their student athletes.
The following is how qualified CCHS teams ranked among the 275 schools in the 1,500 students or larger enrollment category:
Baseball 3.38 11th
Boys Basketball 3.13 26th
Boys Cross Country 3.44 18th
Girls Cross Country 3.53 25th
Boys Soccer 2.96 32nd
Girls Soccer 3.24 40th
Softball 3.21 34th
Boys Tennis 3.59 11th
Girls Tennis 3.41 43rd
Boys Volleyball 3.48 6th
Girls Volleyball 3.37 28th
Boys Water Polo 3.38 12th
Girls Water Polo 3.47 16th
The most important numbers may not always be on the scoreboard. Cheers to the students, the coaches and the parents who work so hard and shine so bight.
The CIF office didn’t publish Boy’s Lacrosse GPA’s in their report. I am proud to report that the defending Ocean League Champion CCHS Boy’s Lacrosse team posted a 3.34 GPA. This continues the great work in the classroom by members of the boys lacrosse program. The program has also had 2 recipients of the U.S. Lacrosse- Academic All American Honors in 2010 and 2012.