St. Paul boys earn top GPA award

NORWALK — Looking back, it made sense. With a veteran team with high expectations, St. Paul boys basketball coach Steve Minor threw a lot at his team on a daily basis this past winter. So when the second-year head coach received word from the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association, he wasn't surprised. On March 26, the OHSBCA announced the Flyers had not only won an Academic Team award, but they also had the top cumulative grade-point average in the state. The OHSBCA and the Ohio Army National Guard will provide the top five boys and girls teams with a plaque that recognizes the honor. The award criteria was based on GPA's for the first semester of this school year. St. Paul came in at No. 1 with a 3.99 GPA. It was followed by St. Clairsville (3.97); Louisville (3.94); Ottoville (3.94); and Wapakoneta (3.93). It was the final cherry on top of a banner season for the Flyers. They finished 20-6 overall and won the Firelands Conference championship outright, followed by Division VII sectional and district championships. "If you don't take care of that business in the classroom, your on-court success obviously doesn't happen," Minor said. "But they not only took care of it, but they did it to such a high standard. They were a smart team. It was no surprise to me when I was sending the information in. "I thought we'd do well, but to be No. 1 is very flattering and all a credit to the kids and the work they do." St. Paul won back-to-back FC titles for the first time since 1997-98; had the longest winning streak (14) since the 1995-96 season; and won the first district title since the 1997-98 season. "When I go back and think about it, I would put new stuff in every day for these guys, and they'd just get it and go," Minor said. "We didn't use it all the time, either. But these kids would just either retain or forget, and just kept going with it. "They were just a very smart team that was hard-working, both mentally and physically." The OHSBCA also announced their Academic All-Ohio player selections. Both boys and girls players were selected from each of the seven divisions for this honor. A players GPA, ACT/SAT score, class rank, and season statistics are all factors that are reviewed during the selection process. The OHSBCA and the Ohio Army National Guard will provide each honoree with a certificate. ------------------------------ OHSBCA All-Ohio Academic awardsBOYSTeam GPA winnersNorwalk St. Paul (3.99); St. Clairsville (3.97); Louisville (3.94); Ottoville (3.94); Wapakoneta (3.93)All-Ohio teamsJase Vermillion, Arlington; Cameron Moore, Avon Lake; Hunter Carrick, Beaver Local; Kayden Schaffer, Bishop Ready; Tryce Chaffin, Bloom-Carroll; Marek Donaldson, Bluffton; Owen Canan, Bradford; Aidan Shaker, Brunswick; Carter Wheeldin, Caldwell; Drew Shapiro, Canfield; Wren Sheets, Crestview; Brady Hignight, Dalton; Ty Maul, Hilliard Darby; Braden Schreck, Ironton; Austin Niekamp, Marion Local; Bentley Hanson, New Lexington; Shane Jones, New Riegel; Ryan Adelsperger, Old Fort; Tyler Kropp, Olentangy Liberty; Luke Wolf, Perry; Carson Cunningham, Springfield; Jameson Heck, Columbus DeSales; Aiden Davis, Steubenville; Jack Batten, Streetsboro; Zack Shawberry, Tiffin Columbian; Brady Bowen, Wooster. GIRLSTeam GPA winnersTwinsburg (4.0); Norton (4.0); Ottoville (4.0); Worthington Kilbourne (4.0); Seneca East (4.0); Hathaway Brown (4.0)All-Ohio teamsBrooke Bender, Anthony Wayne; Else Bender, Anthony Wayne; Sarah Bero, Youngstown Boardman; Nevaeh Metzger, Buckeye Central; Morgan McVetta, Cory-Rawson; Maggie Anderson, Covington; Hannah Ward, Crestwood; Kamryn Barnitz, Fairland; Victoria Mescher, Ft. Loramie; Avery Brandewie, Fort Loramie; Emilee Earl, Houston; McKinley Reichert, Jackson Center; Meredith Bockrath, Kalida; Emily Ridgeway, Kirtland; Ellie Mason, New Philadelphia; Kendall Lower, Canal Fulton Northwest; Maria Stack, Olentangy Liberty; Carly Thorbahn, Ottoville; Eve Schwemley, Shelby; Ava Heller, Sheridan; Riley Thomas, Strasburg; Leah Bourquin, Tusky Valley; Mya Hamilton, Unioto; Olivia Secord, Value; Maggie Wall, Massillon; Aveona Yoder, West Holmes.