FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tampa, Fl. (May 18, 2026) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to celebrate an extraordinary year of achievement, with student-athletes earning multiple Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) spring state championships, academic honors, and district titles across a wide range of sports.
Spring Academic State Champions
Two HCPS teams demonstrated excellence in the classroom through the FHSAA Academic Team Champion program, which recognizes teams with the highest cumulative grade point averages in each classification. To qualify, teams must achieve at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, with top-performing teams recognized statewide for balancing academics and athletics.
Plant High School was named the Overall Academic Team Champion in Class 7A across all sports for the 2025–2026 school year.
Newsome High School Baseball earned the FHSAA Class 7A Academic State Championship with an impressive 3.594 cumulative team GPA.
Spring Sports State Champions
HCPS schools made history in girls' flag football during the 2026 FHSAA State Championships held in Tampa on Saturday, May 16.
Lennard High School captured the Class 4A State Championship, defeating Park Vista 12–6 to secure the title.
Head Coach: Travis Combs
Robinson High School won the Class 2A State Championship, defeating Miami Northwestern 42–34 and earning its 10th consecutive state title, further cementing its status as one of the most successful programs in the country.
Head Coach: Joshua Saunders
Additional HCPS student-athletes earning FHSAA individual state championships during the spring season:
Mason Lablance,
King High School
2A Boys Track & Field – 1600 Meter Dash (4:18)
Head Coach: Gary Bingham
Derrell Hines,
Hillsborough High School
3A Boys Track & Field – Long Jump (7.42m)
Head Coach: Anthony Triana
Hayden Compton,
Durant High School
4A Para-Athlete Division – 400 Meter Dash Wheelchair (1:12:15)
Head Coach: Frank Lane
Olivia Ennis,
Plant City High School
4A Girls Track & Field – Javelin (49.15m)
Head Coach: Andrew Martucci
Nia Armstrong,
Sickles High School
4A Girls Track & Field – 100 Hurdles (13.41) and 400 Hurdles (58.88)
Coaching Staff: Gary Jones, Matthew Delamater, Jon Noland, Andre Clark, Sherman Armstrong, Brice Brown, Annette Jansen
Luca Torres-Sigler,
Spoto High School
3A Boys Tennis – Singles
Head Coach: Hayden Simmons
“Hillsborough County Public Schools continues to set the standard for excellence, both in the classroom and on the field,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “These student-athletes represent the very best of HCPS, demonstrating discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to success that extends far beyond competition.”
From record-setting academic achievements to state championship victories, HCPS students are proving that success is built through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to excellence. To learn more about the athletic and academic opportunities at HCPS, visit hillsboroughschools.org.