Eagles’ Award of Excellence streak snapped

A four-year streak of winning the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship in its division ended for Boulder City High earlier this month as the Eagles finished second to Faith Lutheran for the 2013-2014 school year.

Boulder City garnered 2,841 points, but Faith Lutheran set the all-time division record with 3,762 points.

Boulder City had won the prestigious award as the top athletic program in Division I-A (formerly Class 3A before realignment in 2012) from the NIAA in each of the past four years and in seven of the previous nine years, dating back to the 2004-2005 school year.

“It’s not a great year when we don’t win the Award of Excellence,” Boulder City Athletic Director Regina Quintero said. “But it is still nice to be in the top two place. Unfortunately, we did not earn enough points for athletics and/or academics in all postseasons.

“But just because we came in second place does not mean we did not get things done on the courts, fields and in the classroom. We know that our student-athletes are required to be just that — students first and athletes second. Our students have to understand that being a part of a team takes a huge commitment and that we have high expectations for them throughout the year when it comes to both classroom grades and participation.”

Rounding out the top 10 this school year were: 3. Clark, 2,542; 4. Lowry, 2,362; 5. Churchill County, 2,182; 6. Elko, 2,042; 7. Spring Creek, 1,982; 8. Tech 1,891; 9. Moapa Valley, 1,836; and 10. Pahrump Valley, 1,608.

Faith Lutheran so dominated the competition this school year that it crushed the previous points-total record for Division I-A by 402 points. Previously, the top four record totals, three of them by Boulder City, were separated by only 55 points.

The all-time Division I-A (Class 3A) record point totals: 1. Faith Lutheran (2014), 3,762; 2. Faith Lutheran (2009), 3,360 points; 3. Boulder City, (2012) 3,354; 4. Boulder City (2011), 3,330; 5. Boulder City (2005), 3,305; 6. Truckee (2008), 3,240; 7. Boulder City (2010), 3,200; 8. Boulder City (2007), 3,145; 9. Boulder City (2013), 3,103; and 10. Truckee (2009), 3,090.

“Faith Lutheran had an excellent year and they deserve their credit,” Quintero said.

The NIAA, the nonprofit governing body of high school sports in Nevada, began the award program in 2001. The scoring system awards points to member schools based on their varsity teams’ performances in the classroom, at the athletic venue and in the Citizenship Through Sports program.

Each of the three major categories in high school activities — academics, athletics and sportsmanship — are weighted equally, and boys and girls programs are combined in the standings table.

Spirit and student council/leadership points were added after the conclusion of the winter season. Points were deducted at the conclusion of the spring season for ejections and other acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The NIAA honors the winning school in each division by presenting it with a championship banner and commemorative trophy. The NIAA office staff, board of control members/liaisons and member schools consider the Award of Excellence to be the top overall sports competition.