Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Corey Salzer, Berkeley Prep
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Standardized test score: 2290 SAT (Perfect 800 on writing and math, 690 in critical reading)
Sports: Basketball, lacrosse, volleyball
College: Washington University in St. Louis (volleyball scholarship)
Proudest academic accomplishment: An AP scholar with honor and member of no fewer than four honor societies, Salzer says she’s proudest of her work with Berkeley’s math club, where she served as vice-president as a senior. She placed in the top 15 at the National Math Convention every year of high school and learned the entire Algebra II course the summer before her sophomore year to tutor Berkeley’s Algebra II team for nationals.
Proudest athletic accomplishment: Befitting a National Merit Commended Scholar, Salzer put some thought into this. She hearkens to “those fleeting moments when my extra effort and hard work have had a direct payoff.” Examples: a pass off a diving save in volleyball or forcing a turnover in a trap after hustling across the field in a lacrosse match. “I think what makes an athlete great is the never-ending commitment to making the most of those moments,” she said. …Among the rare high school athletes who still compete in three sports, Salzer was a first-team pick on the Tampa Bay Times’ all-Hillsborough County volleyball team as a senior libero, a three-time basketball team MVP and lacrosse co-captain and MVP as a senior.
Did you know? Salzer was among 24 members of the 2013 FHSAA academic all-state team, which recognizes “extraordinary” academic achievement and community service as well as athletic feats. …Salzer can solve the Rubik’s Cube in roughly two minutes. …As a junior, she and a friend founded Berkeley’s rocketry club, where modest-sized wood rockets are built and launched (the friend has a license, Salzer says). …In addition to extensive tutoring duties at Berkeley, Salzer also was selected by a faculty committee as one of about 20 student prefects, who act as disciplinarians on a daily basis and represent the school on special occasions.
First team
Rachel Dwyer, Chamberlain
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 7.0/4.0
Standardized test score: 1850 SAT (three parts)
Sport: Softball
Notable: Valedictorian. …Three-time first-team pick on Times’ all-Hillsborough County softball team. …16-7, 0.92 ERA as a senior. …Three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association scholar-athlete. …Winner of Dartmouth Alum Book Club Award. …Member of at least three national honor societies. …As senior, spearheaded community service project in which canned goods were collected and sent to a Marine corps in Afghanistan.
College: Virginia (softball scholarship)
Christina Gerecke, Academy of the Holy Names
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 4.6/4.0
Standardized test scores: 1910 SAT (three parts), 28 ACT
Sports: Golf, softball
Notable: Times’ honorable mention on 2012 all-Hillsborough County golf team. …Second-team pick on Times’ 2013 all-county softball team. Second on the ’13 district championship team in average (.512), RBIs (24), runs (30) and hits (41). .…Named AHN’s best senior athlete by school athletic department. …Member of at least six honor societies. …Has earned 423 service hours.
College: Stetson (golf scholarship)
Lindsey Hagberg, Chamberlain
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 6.46/3.94
Standardized test score: 34 ACT
Sport: Softball
Notable: Ranked fifth academically in class of 402. …Member of three consecutive district championship softball teams and starting catcher on 2012 Class 7A state title squad. …Winner of 2013 Jack and Barbara Thompson Award as Hillsborough County’s top softball player. …AP scholar with honors. …Winner of Rensselaer Medal Award for achievement in study of math and science. …National Beta Club senator. …Member of at least three national honor societies. …Has logged 140 hours of community service
College: Harvard (Ivy League schools offer no athletic scholarships)
Julia Rodriguez, Plant
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 6.08/3.92
Standardized test score: 1310 SAT (two parts)
Sports: Cross country, track, tennis
Notable: Class 4A state runner-up in 3,200 meters. …Ninth at 4A state cross country meet in 2012 while recovering from mononucleosis. …Member of two state championship cross country and tennis teams. …Member of at least three honor societies. …Zeta Club treasurer. …Member of Students Against Drunk Driving and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
College: Furman (running scholarship)
Ruth Seleznick, Robinson
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 6.28/3.88
Standardized test score: 30 ACT
Sports: Cheerleading, soccer, flag football
Notable: First-team defender on Times’ all-Hillsborough County soccer team. …Eight goals, five assists as senior, leading Knights to second consecutive Class 3A, District 9 title. …Helped lead cheerleading team to Class A runnerup finish. …National AP Scholar. …Member of principal’s honor roll in International Baccalaureate program. …Winner of Aeronautical Excellence Award. …Among eight recipients of Mandy Stoll Scholar-Athlete Award.
College: Rice (soccer scholarship)
Honorable mention
Alonso: Erin Brzezinski, Lauren Mullen; Durant: Caira Strickland; King: Maria-Inez van Olphen; Lennard: Hunter Walker, Ayrianna Woody; Plant: Nikki Misner; Plant City: Kellee Brown, Kelsey Fry; Robinson: Crystal Ortiz; Wharton: Ashley Cahill, Allison Mitchell
Note: Each school in the county was asked to nominate two boys and two girls. Some schools did not send in nominations.