Winamac’s Kroft, Pioneer’s McKaig, NM’s Sailors named first-team Academic All-State

Pioneer’s H. Zeigler, 8 area boys players earn honorable mention

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association has named Winamac’s Kandace Kroft, Pioneer’s Mia McKaig and North Miami’s Grace Sailors first-team Academic All-State.

They are among 87 seniors – 44 boys and 43 girls – statewide chosen for the honor. In addition, 233 more boys and 181 more girls were recognized as being honorable mention Academic All-State.

“The IBCA Academic All-State program is one where academic prowess and athletic prowess both are considered in the selections,” the association said in a media release. “Items such as grade-point average, academic class rank and SAT or ACT scores are considered along with athletic performance in areas such as points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game.”

Member head coaches may nominate their players, provided they have a 3.50 GPA on a 4.0 scale, a class rank in the upper 25 percent of one;s class and either an SAT score of 1100 on the reading and math sections or an ACT composite score of 24.

Once nominations were received, an IBCA Committee reviewed the information and determined awards.

In addition to Kroft, McKiag and Sailors, Pioneer’s Hannah Zeigler was named to the honorable mention list.

Though no RTC area boys made the first team, eight area players made honorable mention. They included Rochester’s Carson Paulik, Tippecanoe Valley’s William Mellott and Wesley Parker, Culver’s Caleb McCuen and Jonas McCuen, North Miami’s Ryan Meredith, Pioneer’s Micah Rans and Winamac’s Will Malchow.

The IBCA also gave Team Academic Awards to the Caston girls and Winamac boys.

This year marked the first time the IBCA gave out team awards.