Fall Sports Teams at Westlake Honored as Scholars

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. – For the second consecutive year, all fall athletic teams at Westlake High School have been recognized as scholar-athlete teams.

“I could not be more ecstatic about this,” said Westlake High School Athletic Director Donna Pirro. “This is right up there on the same level as a state championship for me."

In order to qualify as a scholar-athlete team, the total average GPA of all the student-athletes on the team must be equal to or above 90.  In total, eight teams all achieved this feat, with a total fall sports season average of 92.0.  These sports include boys and girls soccer, girls swimming & diving, cross country, girls tennis, cheerleading, football, and volleyball.   The girls swimming & diving team came in with the highest team average 94.7. 

Each team, with the exception of cheerleading, will receive a certificate for its accomplishment from the New York State Public High School Athletics Association.  Cheerleading is not currently recognized by the state as a competitive sport.  However, Pirro felt it was necessary to include the team for their hard work and will create an award for the team.

“They put in the same amount of time outside of the classroom as all of the other teams and there’s no reason to leave them out,” Pirro said.

Nick Romeo, head coach of the boys soccer team, said in an email that he was proud of his team’s accomplishment. “It is exceptional that in this day of so many social media distractions to our athletes that they are able to continue to compete at such a high level and maintain their focus on their studies as well,” Romeo said.

Pirro said that an athlete that excels in and out of the classroom is one that they continue to promote at Westlake and her ultimate goal is to have every athletic team at Westlake achieve this feat in a year, something that has never been accomplished.

“Someone that can put in the dedication and commitment to properly manage their time with school work, practice and a social life is the type of person that has what it takes to be a champion,” Pirro said.  “And that’s what we want,”

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