St. Anthony senior dancer and tennis player Liv Hoene earned a spot on the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) All-State Academic Team on Wednesday.
The team and honorable mentions were announced in a press release sent to the media. Hoene was one of 26 student-athletes to be recognized on the statewide team.
“The students named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team embody what education-based athletics and activities are all about,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert in the release. “They have challenged themselves in the classroom, committed to their teams and organizations, and found ways to give back to their schools and communities. Excelling at such a high level in all of these areas requires discipline and heart, and we are incredibly proud to recognize them as representatives of the IHSA and the state of Illinois.”
The release stated that every IHSA member school was invited to nominate one female and one male student to be a part of the prestigious team. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after their seventh semester, have participated in at least two IHSA-sponsored sports or activities during each of the last two years of high school and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.
The nominations were evaluated by a committee made up of IHSA principals, athletic directors and activities directors. One male and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected initially, while the final 12 spots on the team were then rounded out with at-large candidates from anywhere in the state.
Additionally, 50 other student-athletes were named honorable mentions. That list included Effingham’s Max Buzzard and Shelbyville’s Tessa Bowers.
Honorees will be recognized on April 12 at a banquet in Bloomington.