Newport Harbor, CdM Athletic Teams Tops in Whole Other Way

Finding out who’s tops in high school sports is only a score sheet away. But which teams are first when it comes to smarts? The CIF Southern section announced the names Wednesday.

Newport Harbor girls’ cross country team earned an average GPA of 3.89, good enough for first place. Meanwhile, Corona del Mar’s football team not only had an outstanding competitive season, but academically, the players walked away with first place with a collective 3.35 GPA.

The CIF team awards, based on a cumulative grade point average, are awarded in 22 sports, according to the CIF. To be considered, teams must have a minimum 3.0 GPA average (on a 4.0 scale) in college-prep courses in the first semester of the 2013-14 school year.

The highest team GPA in each sport determines the winner. Schools are divided into two enrollment categories, 1,500 students and above and 1,499 and below.

Congrats to the following Patch town winners:

• Baseball: Palos Verdes, 3.59 (larger schools)
• Baseball: Crossroads, 3.61(Santa Monica, smaller schools)
• Cross country, boys: Sierra Canyon, 3.86 (Chatsworth, smaller schools)
• Cross country, girls: Newport Harbor, 3.89 (larger schools)
• Cross country, girls: La Salle, 3.91 (Pasadena, smaller schools)
• Football: Corona del Mar, 3.35 (larger schools)
• Golf, girls: San Juan Hills, 3.88 (San Juan Capistrano, larger schools)
• Soccer, boys: Palos Verdes, 3.52
• Softball: Peninsula, 3.69 (Rolling Hills Estates, larger schools)
• Swimming, girls: Pasadena, 3.82 (larger schools)
• Tennis, boys: Peninsula, 3.79
• Volleyball, boys: Crossroads, 3.8
• Water polo, girls: Palos Verdes, 3.73
• Water polo, girls; Webb, 3.82 (Claremont, smaller schools)
• Wrestling, boys: Temecula Valley, 3.6 (larger schools)