Sierra Lutheran (Class 1A), North Tahoe (2A), Truckee (3A) and Bishop Gorman (4A) tallied the most points through the fall season in their respective classifications to take the early lead in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s annual Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship competition.
The NIAA, the non-profit governing body of high school athletics in the Silver State, began the Award program in 2001.
The scoring system awards points to schools based on their varsity teams’ performances in the classrooms, at the sport venues and in the Citizenship Through Sports Program.
Each of the three major categories in high school activities —studies, sports and sportsmanship — are weighted equally, and boys and girls programs are combined in the standings table. Spirit and Leadership points will be added after the conclusion of the winter season.
Points will be 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.
Sierra Lutheran, which has never before captured the award, leads the Class 1A after the fall season for the fifth consecutive year. The Falcons garnered 330 academic points and 200 athletic points for a total of 530.
Wells, which won the title in 2005 and placed third last year, stands in second with 450 (250 academic, 200 athletic) points.
Virginia City, which has never won the award, sits in third with 350
(190-160) points. Defending and 12-time past champion Pahranagat Valley
is fourth with 340 (200-140) points. Whittell, the 2014 and 2015 Class 1A winner, is fifth with 270 (200-70) points. Eureka, last year’s runner-up, is sixth with 200 (60-140) points.
North Tahoe has never earned the champion’s trophy but seems to always be in contention. The Lakers scored 500 on the academic side and 350 on the athletic side (for a total of 850 points) to assume the early lead in the Class 2A.
The Lakers were the runner-up to The Meadows last year. The Mustangs, the five-time defending and 10-time overall champion overall, posted 780 (420 academic and 360 athletic) points in the opening stanza. Incline, a two-time past winner, is third with 600 (370-230) points.
Yerington, which finished third last year and Needles collected 500 (290-210) and 430 (210-220) points, respectively, to round out the top five for the opening season.
Last year’s top two finishers in the Class 3A have created separation between themselves and the rest of the field to start out this year.
The ranking order so far this year is, however, reversed. Truckee, the 2008 and 2003 champion, recorded 1,220 (590 academic and 630 athletic) points while Boulder City, the two-time defending and nine-time overall champion, garnered 1,020 (480 academic and 540 athletic) points.
Oddly enough, Truckee and Boulder City were two of only six schools from all four classes to score more athletic points than academic points in the fall season.
South Tahoe (450-340—790), Spring Creek (450-280—730), Moapa Valley (380-320—700), Elko (320-300—620), Pahrump Valley (250-350—600), Lowry (420-140—560), Western (270-260—530) and Virgin Valley (430-80—510) rounded out the 3A top 10 after season one.
The top five schools in the Class 4A are the same that finished in those spots a year ago.
Bishop Gorman (third last year), Palo Verde (fifth), Coronado (fourth), Reno (second) and Bishop Manogue (first) are fast out of the gates in 2018-19.
The Gaels, the 2014 champion, tallied 480 academic and 520 athletic points for a total of 1,000. The Panthers, a seven-time past winner, scored 960 (510-450) points. The Cougars, who have never previously taken the crown, recorded 860 (360-500) points.
The Huskies, the 2017 and 2011 champion, collected 840 (480-360) points while the Miners, the defending and six-time overall champion, garnered 830 (540-290) 830 points.
Faith Lutheran, the 2016-2015-2014 champion at the Class 3A, also scored 830 (420-410) points in the inaugural stanza.
Rounding out the top 13 in the 4A are: Centennial (370-420—790), Galena (460-290—750), Damonte Ranch (500-240—740), Douglas (520-160—680), Spanish Springs (380-300—680), Clark (400-270—670) and Reed (390-260—650).
A listing of the categorical records (overall totals, academic points, athletic points) for the fall season all time are listed later in this release.
For more information about the NIAA’s Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship program, please contact Donnie Nelson (Assistant Director) at office phone number 775-453-1012.
