These Hillsborough Student-Athletes Kept Their Grades Up While Playing

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Although students are in the final countdown to the last day of school, spring sports student-athletes from across the county came together Thursday morning to celebrate their accomplishments this season.

Many of the students present were seniors who are about to embark on the next phase of life.

Congratulations to the following teams with the highest team GPA during this season:

• Baseball – Bloomingdale High School (3.633)
• Softball – Newsome High School (3.868)
• Boys Track – Plant High School (3.696)
• Girls Track – Sickles High School (3.815)
• Boys Tennis – Armwood High School (3.917)
• Girls Tennis – Hillsborough High School (3.956)
• Girls Flag Football – Plant High School (3.700)
• Boys Lacrosse – Plant High School (3.751)
• Girls Lacrosse – Plant High School (3.818)
• Comprehensive schoolwide GPA – Plant High School (3.712)

Individual athletic award winners:

Jack and Barbara Thompson Softball Player of the Year – Madison Frey, Steinbrenner High School

Frey plays catcher and third base and has lettered all four years at Steinbrenner. Her weighted GPA is 6.0449 and her unweighted GPA is 3.9649. She will attend Florida State University on a full scholarship to play softball and will major in exercise science/athletic training.

Happy Home Center Outstanding Flag Football Player of the Year – Devyn Silvestri, Newsome High School

Silvestri plays quarterback and safety for Newsome. She has lettered all four years in flag football and is a two-year team captain. Her weighted GPA is 5.931 and her unweighted GPA is 3.931. She will attend Florida State University to major in sports management.

Andres Garcia Memorial Tennis Award - Tana Huntley, Strawberry Crest High School (female)

Huntley has played tennis all four years at Strawberry Crest. She was the captain of this year's team. She was the 2021 district champion for singles No. 3 and doubles No. 2. Her weighted GPA is 4.7396 and her unweighted GPA is 3.3396. She is undecided on her college choice but wants to major in psychology.

Andres Garcia Memorial Tennis Award - Elijah Rhoden (male)

Rhoden has lettered all four years in tennis and was captain his senior year. His weighted GPA is 4.469 and his unweighted GPA is 3.109. He will attend the Tampa Fire Department Fire Academy, following in his father's footsteps.

HALAX Outstanding Lacrosse Player - Maya Bronson (female)

Bronson has lettered all four years in lacrosse and was selected by her teammates as a captain her senior year. She is a midfield shooter and draw circle member. She was chosen 2nd Team All-Western Conference Midfielder for 2021; Tampa Lax Report player of the week in 2021 (week 6); and Tampa Lax Report Top 25 girls player to watch in 2021 and 2022. Her weighted GPA is 6.08 and her unweighted GPA is a 4.0. She will attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville, majoring in aerospace engineering.

HALAX Outstanding Lacrosse Player - Luke Haley (male)

Haley plays midfield and lettered all four years in lacrosse. He was selected as one of the team captains his senior year. He is Newsome's all-team leading goal scorer with over 200 career goals. His weighted GPA is 5.4 and his unweighted GPA is 3.5. He will attend the University of Utah where he committed to playing lacrosse.

Vernon Korhn Award – Plant High School

This award, named in honor of former Hillsborough County Athletic Director Vernon Korhn, goes to the top athletic program in the district. The winner is chosen based on three components: the school's sports teams' success, overall GPA, and sportsmanship (ie. the number of ejections recorded throughout the season).