For the seventh time in 10 years, the boys soccer program at Westport’s Staples High School has been honored with a national award for academic excellence.
The 2009 Staples boys soccer team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America gave the Wreckers a Team Academic Award — one of only three boys soccer teams in Connecticut to be so named.
To qualify, a squad must have a 3.25 grade point average of all varsity players. The award is given for the previous academic year. In 2009, Staples’ 26 varsity players had an average GPA of 3.37.
“I’ve always said that our players are some of the smartest and most creative people at Staples,” said head coach Dan Woog.
“We want our guys to be as strong in the classroom as they are on the field. What’s especially gratifying about this award is that it’s won as a team. I’m proud that the NSCAA recognizes our team as one that strives for academic excellence.”
The Wreckers are not only strong scholastically, of course. The 2009 team won both the state and FCIAC championship.
Woog said that the 2010 side — which three-peated as FCIAC champ, and reached the final of the state tournament — should also qualify for the Academic
