Redbird Netters Recognized for Academics

For the sixth consecutive year, the Alton High School boys’ varsity tennis team has received the Team Academic Award from the Illinois High School Association. The award recognizes varsity teams that excel in the classroom while in season. To be eligible, teams must maintain at least a 3.0 G.P.A on an unweighted 4.0 scale. For the 2013 season, the Redbird varsity netters maintained a team G.P.A of 3.37.  When calculating honors classes, the varsity squad had an average G.P.A. of 4.06. The Redbirds were led this year by three seniors who all ranked in the top ten in the graduating class of 2013: Evan Hays, Alex Willis, and Cody Peckham.   Peckham graduated as salutatorian for Alton High and was also the Rotary Student of the Year.  He and Willis both held the highest ACT scores in the school, with each student attaining a 34.  Willis was also two time member of the Southwestern Conference All Academic Team in 2012 and 2013.  Other members of the 2013 varsity team were Allan Bower, Christian Freeman, Adam Ruckman, Carl Stradal, Kain Henson, Jackson Scheiter, Drew Hays, Max Sutton, and Jeff Northway.  Besides winning the award from 2008-2013, the Alton High tennis team also won the award in 2005.