HELENA — The Montana High School Association and Army National Guard announced its annual academic all-team awards for the 2017-2018 winter sports season recently, showcasing student-athletes talents in the classroom.
The Helena Capital girls basketball program boasted the highest GPA, a 3.909, edging out the Turner girls basketball squad’s 3.892.
The MHSA/Army National Guard academic all-team award is given to the varsity program that exhibits outstanding academic achievement during the school year’s first quarter of play in that activity. Winter activities are determined by using student-athletes who have participated in second-quarter activities — boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling.
Bill Pilgeram’s Helena Capital team was joined by Guy Almquist’s Helena Capital boys program in the Class AA ranks. The Bruins boasted a 3.664 GPA average. The Great Falls CMR wrestling team was also honored in Class AA, reaching an average GPA of 3.136.
Billings Central swept the Class A honors – boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling – for the winter sports clubs. Jim Stergar’s State A runner-up boys basketball team held a GPA average of 3.66, while Central’s girls posted a 3.84.
The Rams wrestlers showcased a 3.63 GPA.
Class B honored the Shelby boys and girls basketball teams, along with the Baker wrestling program. Tom Reynolds’ State B runner-up Coyotes captured a 3.409 GPA average, while their female counterparts posted a 3.742.
The Baker wrestling squad earned an impressive 3.273.
Class C programs held the highest cumulative GPA between the three sports teams, earning a 3.775 between the North Star boys basketball team, Turner girls basketball program and Simms wrestlers.
The North Star boys, who finished runner-up in District 9C, posted a 3.734. Turner’s girls advanced to the Northern C divisional for the first time in 21 years, but were equally impressive in the classroom, totaling an average GPA of the 3.892.
Simms’ wrestlers earned a 3.700 GPA average.
The entire list of winter academic all-team winners, along with average GPA, can be found below.
2017-2018 MHSA/Army National Guard academic all-teams
Class AA
Boys basketball — Helena Capital, 3.664
Girls basketball — Helena Capital, 3.909
Wrestling — Great Falls CMR, 3.136
Class A
Boys basketball — Billings Central, 3.66
Girls basketball — Billings Central, 3.84
Wrestling — Billings Central, 3.63
Class B
Boys basketball — Shelby, 3.409
Girls basketball — Shelby, 3.742
Wrestling — Baker, 3.273
Class C
Boys basketball — North Star, 3.734
Girls basketball — Turner, 3.892
Wrestling — Simms, 3.700