Sixteen Kosciusko High School sports teams and extracurricular activities programs have qualified for the Mississippi High School Activities Association Team Scholar Athlete Program by posting composite GPAs of 3.00 or above for the fall semester.
All athletic teams, as well as band, choir, cheerleading and dance, are eligible. Kosciusko Director of Athletics Macy Wilbanks said she had just finished compiling the numbers and noted that 75 of those who participate on the varsity level recorded Grade Point Averages of 4.0. Only varsity team members are eligible.
“Kosciusko in general is vey academic oriented and that is something our coaches emphasize and something we emphasize as an administration,” Wilbanks said, noting that winning games is not the only positive that comes from athletics.
“Every kid is not going to go play athletics at the next level,” she said. “To me it is important, for our town, our community, our state, and our country to put out quality citizens who go out in the work force and become the type citizens who contribute.”
The cheerleading squad recored the highest GPA at 3.85, followed closely by fast-pitch softball at 3.83 and girls cross-country at 3.77.
Administrators have until April 1 to submit applications to the MSHAA for a sports team to be recognized for its academics. Wilbanks said that the numbers for the boys and girls track teams have not been compiled yet because the final team rosters have not been finalized.
Here are the team by team fall GPAs for the qualifying sports/activities at KHS: Cheer, 3.85; Softball, 3.83; Girls Cross-Country, 3.77; Volleyball, 3.74; Band, 3.67; Girls soccer, 3.65; Golf, 3.61; Choir, 3.61; Tennis, 3.59; Baseball, 3.59; Girls Basketball, 3.55; Boys Soccer, 3.46; Boys Cross-Country, 3.44; Boys Basketball, 3.35; Powerlifting, 3.28 and Football 3.21.
Here is a list of the Kosciusko High School students who achieved a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester as released by Director of Athletics Macy Wilbanks:
Jordan Ables, Macie Alford, Sky Armon, Madison Autry, Calvin Banks, Jeffery Barksdale, Cooper Black, Campbell Blaine, Talynda Boyd, Kobe Carter, Will Carter, Anna Catherine Cheek, Olivia Cockroft, Will Cook, Jacob Davide, Meredith Dean, Devonte Ellis, Lakelynn Fancher, Janiya Fleming, Presley, Fulgham, Savannah Fulgham, Brittlyn Gillum, Tameelah Gladney, Ansley Gordon, Kelly Goss, Khameron Harvey, Mary Patton Henderson, Dana Hill, Kaitlyn Howell, Akeelah Hunt, Bracie Jamison, Austin Jones, Carter Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Makayla Kast, Emmagail Kelley, Anna Grace Kuhn, Ozell Landfair, Anna Grace Mancell, Azikwe Mays, Eshavious Mays, Naja Mays, Anna McGee, Zavier Miller, Laken Milner, Preston Moore, Trinity Mosley, Emmalee Myers, Lanna Lee Nunley, Jacob Nunn, Hannah Olive, Gustavo Orduna, Parth Patel, Anna Caroline Pickle, Robert Pickle, Cody Pope, Emily Pope, Kaylan Powell, Lucas Price, Mary Kimble Price, Diamond Rayford, Emma Rhodes, Anna Grace Rigby, Ulan Sarolia, Matthew Sims, Alli Sparks, Destiny Van, Kadie Van, Tyler VanCise, Landon Wallace, Amari Warren, Alexandra West, Tarrance Wilkes, D’Naylah Williams and Gracie Williams.
