As we reported back in September, the LHHS football team does more than just strap on the pads and play ball.

Head Coach Scott Smith and the rest of his staff have done an incredible job in putting academics as a priority for all players.

“There's a reason we call them student athletes instead of athlete students,” Coach Smith was quoted as saying in our September article.

(Read that article here).

The hard work and dedication to academics has paid off, as six Wildcats are represented on the 2009-'10 Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State team.

Out of the 700 5-A Academic All-State nominees, only 32 were awarded Elite status. Lake Highlands seniors John Woodiel and Ricky Zorn were two of them.

“I’m especially grateful,” says Woodiel, who played center for the Wildcats this year. “It’s an honor to have been nominated by the coaches. I wasn’t really expecting it."

Woodiel is currently ranked 5th in the senior class at LHHS and will attend the University of Texas, unless he's accepted to Harvard or Yale.

Senior quarterback Ricky Zorn was recently awarded Co-MVP honors for District 9-5A, and now has an All-State Academic honor to go along with his District MVP award.

“Wow, that's pretty cool that two of the 32 Elite nominees are from Lake Highlands,” says Zorn. “I'm honored to have been choosen by the coaches, and I'm really happy for John and the rest of the guys who were recognized.”

Zorn is currently ranked second in the senior class and wants to continue his football career at the next level. Possible destinations include the Air Force Academy, Yale or Harvard, but he has a few other schools on the radar, as well.

Representing the Wildcats on the THSCA Academic All-State second team are LHHS seniors Quincy Lane and Kurt Stadelman.

“I’m really surprised,” says Lane, who played defensive back for the Wildcats. “This is really an honor. Just goes to show you that if you work hard and stay focused, good things will happen.”

Lane hopes to end up at the University of Southern California next year.

Seniors Scott Morgan and Matt Werther were also recognized on the Academic All-State team as Honorable Mention nominees.

“I’m very proud of all these young men,” says Coach Smith. “They work extremely hard on and off the field and certainly deserve to be recognized for their achievements in the classroom. My hat is off to each of them.”

You can view the entire 2009-'10 THSCA All-State Academic team by visiting the THSCA website at http://www.thsca.com.

Congrats to all the Wildcats who achieved Academic All-State honors!

GO 'CATS!

Pictured below: Elite THSCA Academic All-State winners - Seniors John Woodiel & Ricky Zorn.
Photos courtesy of David Werther.