Photo Courtesy Willapa Valley HS - The Willapa Valley High School Boys Basketball Team won the 2016 WIAA Academic State Championship (Class 2B) with an overall GPA of 3.65. In front from left are Frank Roonsburg, Hunter Kudasik, Walker Oblad, Matt Pearson
The Willapa Valley High School Boys' Basketball Team achieved academic excellence by winning the 2016 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Academic State Championship (Class 2B) for the winter sports season..
The Vikings, with their 13 players, earned a GPA of 3.65 to finish ahead of several Class 2B schools.
The team was coached by Jay Pearson (head coach) and Jim Noreen (assistant coach). Players include Ryon Ashley, Jonathan Carlson, Trevor Cook, Jason Fluke, Brendyn Graves, Hunter Gray, Hunter Kudasik, Matt Minton, Tyson Nissell Walker Oblad, Matt Pearson, Frank Roonsburg, Leo Ruelas,
"This is really quite an outstanding achievement," Willapa Valley HS Athletic Director John Peterson told the Herald. "It's quite an honor - a great job in classroom by the students, and most importantly to the parents and the coaches as well. We're just really proud of our students. Their parents and coaches have done a great job with them.
"And, for the kids, this is just outstanding," Peterson said. "For thirteen kids to accumulate a GPA of 3.65 is an outstanding job. They are called student-athletes. They are students first - even though some people don't believe that. We do mean that here at Valley."
This is the first time WVHS has finished first in the state for academics in boys basketball. The WVHS Cheerleaders won in 2005, 2008 and 2014. The WVHS girls' basketball team won in 2013, and the WVHS Band won in 2005.
Over the past several years, Willapa Valley High School has also been recognized by the WIAA for "distinguished" and "outstanding" achievements by its student-athletes.
The winning teams will be presented with a special plaque at the upcoming WIAA, Dairy Farmers of Washington, Les Schwab Tires State Championships.
The academic champions for winter include band, basketball, bowling, cheer, choir, dance/drill, forensics, gymnastics, orchestra, boys swimming & diving, and wrestling.
The Scholastic Awards Program recognizes the team with the highest grade point average among all Washington high schools in their enrollment classification.