With the end of the high school sports season, the NIAA has announced its Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship winners for 2014-2015.
Whittell was the Division IV winner, The Meadows took home the top honor in Division III, Faith Lutheran in Division I-A and Bishop Manogue in Division I.
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, the non-profit governing body of high school athletics in the Silver State, began the program in 2001.
The scoring system awards points to schools based on their varsity teams’ performances in the classroom, at the athletic venue and in the Citizenship Through Sports (CTS) Program.
Each of the three major categories in high school activities —academics, athletics and sportsmanship — are weighted equally, and boys and girls programs are combined in the standings table. Spirit and student council/leadership points were added after the conclusion of the winter season. Points were deducted at the conclusion of the spring season for ejections and other acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.
The NIAA honors the winning school in each classification by presenting it with a championship banner and commemorative trophy. The NIAA considers the Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship to be its top overall program.
Faith Lutheran won six state championships this season Division I-A, scoring a record 2,945 points. Boulder City, also of the Division I-A South, was second at 2,725. Clark was third with 2,160 points and Lowry was the highest finishing Division I-A North school in fourth. Spring Creek, South Tahoe, Truckee, Virgin Valley, Moapa Valley and Sparks rounded out the top 10.
Lowry won regional championships this year in wrestling and girls basketball. The boys basketball team reached the semifinals of the state basketball tournament. The volleyball, girls soccer and softball team made it to the regional tournament and the swim team had a strong showing at the regional and state championships.
Lowry also finished fourth last year in the standings.
Bishop Manogue captured the title for the fourth time in six years in Division I.
The Miners, who did not have a single coach or player ejected all year, totaled 3,900 points to outdistance traditional contenders Palo Verde (2,850), Bishop Gorman (2,775), Centennial (2,770), Douglas (2,750) and Reno (2,425).
Galena, Wooster and Green Valley rounded out the top 10 placers.
The Meadows made it back-to-back and seven titles overall in Division III. The Mustangs, who did not lose any points for an ejection, tallied 2,820 points. Incline (1,700), Needles (1,480), Yerington
(1,465) and Battle Mountain (1,460) made up the top five placers. White Pine, Mountain View, Lincoln County, Pershing County and Calvary Chapel rounded out the top 10.
Whittell also repeated, compiling 1,910 points. Pahranagat Valley (1,660) and Eureka (1,140) placed second and third, respectively. Sierra Lutheran, Wells, Jackpot, Sage Ridge, Smith Valley, Carlin and Virginia City all figured in the top 10.
