Three Fall Teams Score Top Academic Honors

Three Mount Madonna School (MMS) fall athletic teams, girls varsity volleyball, girls cross country and boys cross country have each received the Central Coast Section (CCS) highest academic honor by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF): “2019-20 Fall Season Scholastic Championship Team Award.”

“We find the hard work and discipline it takes to excel in athletics also carries over into the classroom,” commented MMS Head of School Mary Supriya McDonald. “We are so proud of each of these scholar-athletes!”

The girls varsity volleyball team is being honored as having one of the top five scholastic averages among all CCS volleyball teams, 3.881. Team members are: AnMei Dasbach-Prisk, Ceci Rothman-Salado, Ksenia Medvedeva, Paola Jacobs and Tabby Hardin-Zollo, 12th grade; Kahlan Tervalon and Savannah Cambell, 11th grade; Liana Kitchel and Summer Howley, 10th grade; and Eve Willis and Mariah Cohen, 9th grade.

“The physical and mental commitment it takes to pull off a championship would seem like a full time job, but the MMS girls varsity team were awarded the CCS scholastic award on top of their athletic achievements,” noted Hawks girls varsity volleyball Coach Erin Mitchell. “It is clear that these young athletes are working just as hard off the court as they are on it. It takes an incredible amount of commitment, sacrifice and time management to achieve athletic and academic success during the height of season!”

The girls cross country team is recognized as having the highest collective scholastic average among CCS girls cross country teams, 3.944. Team members are: Kira Kaplan and Sara Bautista, 11th grade.

 The boys cross country team is being honored as having one of the top five scholastic averages among all CCS cross country teams, 3.805. Team members are: Oliver Mensinger, Ronan Lee and Sammy Caudill, 11th grade; and Jacob Sirk-Traugh and Sam Kaplan, 9th grade.

“I’m very excited to hear this news,” commented cross country Coach Nicholas Cabassa. “I’ve always believed that a strong mind is the common thread that binds all great athletes.”

These awards were instituted by the CCS Board of Managers in 1985 as a way to recognize the top five teams with the highest collective grade-point average in their respective sport during that season of competition.

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Contact: Leigh Ann Clifton, director of marketing & communications,

Nestled among the redwoods on 375 acres, Mount Madonna School (MMS) is a community of learners dedicated to creative, intellectual, and ethical growth. MMS supports its students in becoming caring, self-aware, discerning and articulate individuals; and believe a fulfilling life includes personal accomplishments, meaningful relationships and service to society. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville. Founded in 1979.