Hillsborough County Public Schools -

Tampa, Fla. – (May 15, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools honored our spring sports student athletes for individual awards and team GPA awards at their Spring Sports Awards on Thursday, May 15th.

Team GPA Awards

Newsome Baseball – 3.584 GPA
Alonso Softball – 3.733 GPA
Newsome Boys Track – 3.474 GPA
Bloomingdale Girls Track – 3.679 GPA
Steinbrenner Boys Tennis – 3.910 GPA
Middleton Girls Tennis – 3.874 GPA
Lennard Girls Flag Football – 3.762 GPA
Newsome Boys Lacrosse – 3.654 GPA
Steinbrenner Girls Lacrosse – 3.773 GPA

Jack and Barbara Thompson Softball Player of the Year
Natalie Cable, Bloomingdale High School

Natalie is a pitcher who also plays first base and outfield for Bloomingdale High School, lettering all four years in softball. She boasts a .595 batting average, with 17 RBIs, 5 home runs, 2 triples, and 6 doubles. On the mound, she has pitched 37.2 innings with an impressive 1.12 ERA and 85 strikeouts. She has been selected for the First Team Western Conference three times and holds a state record for the most strikeouts during her freshman year. Her coach describes her as the embodiment of integrity, noting that she works hard every day—not for recognition, but for her own growth. Natalie pushes her teammates to excel, cheers them on from the sidelines, and perseveres when the game gets tough. Academically, Natalie maintains a 3.8 unweighted GPA and a 4.6 weighted GPA. She will be attending UCLA on a softball scholarship, where she plans to major in Biochemistry.

Happy Home Center Outstanding Flag Football Player of the Year
Haidyn Spano, Robinson High School

Haidyn plays quarterback and corner for Robinson High School and has lettered all four years in flag football. Her stats speak volumes: 2,969 passing yards, a 65% completion rate, 51 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions. Additionally, she has rushed for 490 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. On defense, she has recorded 54 flag pulls and 5 interceptions while competing against one of the toughest schedules in the state. She was named the 2024 State Player of the Year and earned First Team All-State honors as a quarterback in both 2023 and 2024. Holding every school record for quarterbacks, she was also nominated by the Buccaneers for the NFL Player of the Year award. Her coach describes her as one of the best quarterbacks and defensive backs in the state, praising her relentless work ethic and leadership. Haidyn has a 3.96 unweighted GPA and a 6.28 weighted GPA. She will be attending Lynn University on a volleyball scholarship, where she plans to major in Sports Psychology.

Andres Garcia Memorial Tennis Award – Female
Vanessa Hutto, Freedom High School

Vanessa plays #1 singles and #1 doubles for Freedom High School and has served as team captain from 2023 to 2025. In 2023, she was selected for First Team All-Conference honors. Her coach describes Vanessa as one of the most remarkable students they have encountered, highlighting her exceptional intelligence, leadership, athleticism, and dedication to her school community. She is a motivating force for her teammates, fosters a collaborative spirit, and leads her teams to success both on and off the court. Vanessa holds a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA and an outstanding 7.0 weighted GPA. She will be attending the University of Florida Honors Program, where she plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Andres Garcia Memorial Tennis Award – Male
Tyler Cabrera, Newsome High School

Tyler plays the #1 line this year, after competing at the #2 line during his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. He has played #1 doubles all four years and currently serves as team captain. He qualified for the state tournament as a freshman and junior and has earned All-Western Conference honors each year. His coach praises him for leading by example, mentoring younger players, and maintaining composure on and off the court. Tyler is respected by his teammates for his maturity, patience, and ability to offer sound advice. With a 3.8793 unweighted GPA and a 6.1993 weighted GPA, Tyler is deciding between the University of Florida and USF, where he plans to major in Computer Science with a focus on Cybersecurity.

HALAX Outstanding Lacrosse Player – Female
McKenzey Craig, Plant High School

McKenzey plays midfield for Plant High School and has lettered all four years in lacrosse. She is committed to playing at a top-five Division I school, where she is expected to see significant playing time. Her coach describes her as dominant in the draw circle, possessing a high lacrosse IQ, exceptional speed, stamina, and proficiency with both hands. She is quick to react to ground balls and draw controls, has a diverse range of shots, and adapts strategically to opponents. Despite surpassing 200 career goals, McKenzey embraces sportsmanship, prioritizing team success over personal statistics. With 164 lifetime assists, she holds the all-time assist record in the greater Tampa/Bradenton/St. Pete area. Known for her tireless dedication, she frequently puts in extra training before and after school. McKenzey has a 3.67 unweighted GPA and a 5.35 weighted GPA. She will be attending Johns Hopkins University, where she plans to major in Public Health.

HALAX Outstanding Lacrosse Player – Male
Brendan Medearis, Plant High School

Brendan plays attack for Plant High School and has lettered for three years in lacrosse. Over the past three seasons, he has accumulated 142 goals, 36 assists, 106 ground balls, and 55 caused turnovers. Next year, he will be playing collegiate lacrosse at a Division III powerhouse program. He has been named First Team All-Western Conference and was repeatedly selected as Tampa Lax Report Player of the Week. His coach describes him as an elite shooter and dodger with both hands, known for his hustle, discipline, and leadership. His energy, work ethic, and dedication to his teammates make him a standout both on and off the field. Brendan maintains a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 4.2 weighted GPA. He will be attending Christopher Newport University, where he plans to major in Business with a minor in Leadership.