The Versailles Republican Sports

March 31, 2011

Area athletes selected to IBCA Academic All-Star status

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) announced their slate of 242 Indiana senior boys and girls from the 2010-11 basketball teams who had earned at the minimum IBCA Academic All-State honorable mention status.
Criteria to be eligible for consideration for recognition is selective. The IBCA Academic All-State program agenda slate requires academic prowess and athletic prowess both be considered. Items such as grade point average, college board scores and academic class rank are considered along with athletic performance in areas such as points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and shooting percentages.
As stated by IBCA executive director Steve Witty, "The quality of these student-athletes are not separate entities. Rather, in many cases, a player's success in the classroom directly contributes to his or her success on the floor."
IBCA-member head coaches from schools across the state may nominate their seniors who meet criteria that include a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale, a class rank in the upper 25% of one's class, an SAT score of 1500 or an ACT score of 23. Nominees also are to have been starting players in at least 90% of their team's games when physically able.
Once nominations are received, an IBCA committee reviews the information and determines awards for first team and honorable mention.
Those selected will receive certificates from the IBCA for their honor. Those certificates will be distributed to coaches at the IBCA Spring Clinic on April 29-30, in Indianapolis. The coaches then present the certificates to the honored players in May.
The IBCA has selected an Academic All-State team for boys since 1973. The program was expanded to include a girls' Academic All-State team in 1980.
61 players selected
first-team
Academic All-State,
30 boys & 31 girls with an additional 76 boys and 105 girls recognized as honorable mention Academic All-State.
All four Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagle senior team members: Becca Wagner, Brooke Gilland, Alyssa Hammond and Hailee Sizemore coached by Scott Smith, earned recognition as IBCA Academic All-State honorable mention members.
Other area girls on the list were: Batesville Lady Bulldog Caroline (Carly) Paul coached by Matt Maple, Oldenburg Lady Twister Rebecca Horan coached by Dan Kerker, East Central Lady Trojans Nicole Erhart and Emily Lehman coached by Kevin Moore and Madison Shawe Memorial Lady Hilltopper Hana Roberts coached by Rachel Baudendistal.
Local area girls named IBCA First-Team Girls' Academic All-State included: East Central Lady Trojan Beth Moorman coached by Kevin Moore and Southwestern Hanover Lady Rebel Kelsey Jones coached by Rhonda Smith.
Batesville Bulldog Chris Giesting, coached by Aaron Garrett, was the only local area male to be selected as IBCA First Team Boys' Academic All-State.
Local area male athletes earning recognition as IBCA Academic All-State honorable mention members included: Batesville Bulldog Cameron Fledderman coached by Aaron Garrett, Oldenburg Academy Twisters Woodie Perkins and Andrew Newton coached by Gary Moorman, East Central Trojan Brady Collins coached by David Disbro, South Dearborn Knight Matt McLaughlin coached by Toby Carrigan and Madison Shawe Memorial Hilltopper Michael Kring coached by Jerry Bomholt in his last season as boys head coach at MSMHS.
Our congratulations and a hats off to all who held academics high in importance while acquiring high marks in sports action for their respective schools and communities!