Bearcats aplenty among academic all-state

There is a connection between winning and intelligence. After all, would a coach let an athlete see much action in a game if they only knew 60% of the playbook?

Clearly, the athletes at Aledo High School know a lot of the playbook in their respective sports — and in the classroom as well. The fall sports programs had a total of 28 athletes and two trainers honored as academic all-state by the Texas High School Coaches Association, along with six athletes earning the same honor from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Leading the accolades were 21 athletes and two trainers from the Bearcats football program honored by the THSCA. The team recently won the Class 5A Division I state championship, the 11th in program history.

Volleyball garnered four honors from the THSCA and four from the TGCA, while cross country had three THSCA recipients and two from the TGCA. The Ladycats volleyball team finished second in District 5-5A and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The Ladycats and Bearcats won the district cross country championship and the Ladycats advanced to the 5A State Meet.

To be nominated for THSCA Academic All-State, a student must be an athlete, student trainer or manager in good standing with the team, of good moral character, a senior and have an overall grade point average of 92 or above (including courses from grades 9-11 and courses completed from grade 12). Weighted GPAs accepted.

To be nominated for TGCA Academic All-State, a student/athlete must be a graduating senior with an overall GPA of 94 or above for grades 9-11, must be a varsity participant or member of the support staff of that sport in good standing an be of good moral character.

Here’s the complete list of recipients from Aledo:

Texas High School Coaches Association

Football -  Elite team: Sawyer Storck. First team: Max Moeller, Christian Hillman, Toby McDonald, Caden Petty, Luke Shelton, Isaac Sohn. Second team: Brody Heimke, Isaac Knott, Andrew Chasteen, Cayson Hand, Jena Claffy (trainer), Kenneth Lohmer. Honorable mention: Ansel Din-Mbuh, Gabriel Sherrod, Tanner Wheaton, Clay Murador, Tabb Witt, Caden Boukadoum, Ethan Smith, Cap Mooney, Callie Stevens (trainer), Jalen Pope.

Volleyball - Second team: Payton Hilmer, Madison Jarvis. Honorable mention: Madison Frank, Mia Little.

Girls cross country - First team: Sidney Tillotson. Second team: Caitlyn Weimer.

Boys cross country - First team: Henry Zedler.

Texas Girls Coaches Association

Volleyball - Maddie Frank, Payton Hilmer, Maddy Jarvis, Mia Little.

Cross country - Sidney Tillotson, Caitlyn Weimer.