All seven Rhinebeck High School fall varsity teams received the Scholar-Athlete Team Award from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association for a second consecutive year.
To qualify, each team – boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross-country, girls volleyball, girls swimming and diving and boys golf – must maintain a grade point average of 90 or better.
"I am so proud of our scholar-athletes on our varsity teams,” said Edwin Davenport, high school principal. “This accolade is a testament to their hard work and dedication in and outside of the classroom, and the support of their parents, teachers, and coaches. Congratulations!"
In the classroom, Rhinebeck students continue to succeed. The school earned a NYSPHSAA School of Excellence honor in 2023-2024 for having 75 percent or more of its teams win the Scholar-Athlete Team Award. In 2022-2023, Rhinebeck received NYSPHSAA School of Distinction honors after all of its varsity teams earned the Scholar-Athlete Team Award.
“It is always an honor to be recognized by the NYSPHSAA as a scholar-athlete team,” said varsity boys soccer coach Justin Wiesenthal. “As a program, our coaches always reinforce that school comes first with our athletes. A lot of hard work goes into our players’ seasons. For them to succeed in this manor in the classroom as well is a great accomplishment.”
Fiona Murray just completed her senior season with the varsity girls soccer team and is the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society.
“It means a lot and I’m very proud of everyone,” she said of her team’s recognition.
Rhinebeck athletes turned in strong performances during the 2024 fall season. The varsity boys soccer team, led by all-state player Parker Ruger, won the Section IX Class C title; the varsity girls soccer team competed in a Section IX final for the first time since 2017, and the varsity boys golf team captured a Mid-Hudson Athletic League division title.