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Tampa, Fla. – (January 21, 2026) – Hillsborough County Public Schools honored our fall sports student athletes for individual awards and team GPA awards at their Fall Sports Awards on Wednesday, January 21.
2025-2026 Team GPA Awards
Newsome Football – 3.435 GPA
Freedom Volleyball – 3.807 GPA
Newsome Boys Cross Country – 3.793 GPA
Bloomingdale Girls Cross Country – 3.911 GPA
Strawberry Crest Boys Swimming – 3.924 GPA
Lennard Girls Swimming – 3.912 GPA
Steinbrenner Boys Golf – 3.832 GPA
Steinbrenner Girls Golf – 3.957 GPA
Henry Hicks Memorial Award for Outstanding Swimmer - Boys
Tyler Stargardt, Newsome High School
Tyler lettered all four years in boys swimming at Newsome and served as a team captain. At the 2025 4A FHSAA State Finals, he placed fourth in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 individual medley. This season, Tyler won both events at the County Championship, breaking the County Championship records in each. He currently holds three school records at Newsome (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 200 individual medley) and has been named Newsome’s Male Swimmer of the Year in all four years of his high school career. Tyler has medaled in every individual event he has competed in at the State Championship meet over the past two seasons. His performances in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley at the State Meet this year earned him All‑American consideration. Tyler’s coach describes him as a quiet but impactful leader—calm, soft‑spoken, and an exceptional competitor who consistently delivers his best performances when it matters most. Academically, Tyler maintains a 6.12 weighted GPA and a 3.95 unweighted GPA. He has committed to the United States Air Force Academy, where he will continue his swimming career while pursuing a degree in engineering.
Henry Hicks Memorial Award for Outstanding Swimmer - Girls
Keely Finan, Bloomingdale High School
Keely lettered for three years in girls swimming and competed at the 4A FHSAA State Championship, where she placed sixth in diving and qualified for the 200-freestyle relay as the anchor. She was also a state qualifier in both 2023 and 2024. In addition to her competitive success, Keely served as the team’s diving captain and was named Athlete of the Week multiple times during her career. According to her coach, Keely began swimming just three years ago as a supplement to diving and quickly discovered a passion for sprint freestyle. In her first 50‑yard freestyle race, she swam a mid‑28, and through dedication and effort has dropped her time to under 25 seconds. She has become a vital bridge between the swim team and the three‑member diving squad, embodying leadership across both disciplines. The control and grace that define Keely’s diving are equally evident in her freestyle stroke. The countless hours of training and emotional commitment she poured into improving her speed this season played a key role in the relay team’s qualification for the State Championship. Academically, Keely excels with a 7.4 weighted GPA and a 4.0 unweighted GPA. She plans to attend the University of Florida, where she will major in biology.
Casey Most Valuable Golfer Award - Girls
Amyshell Forbes, Lennard High School
Amyshell lettered all four years in girls’ golf and finished her high school career with a nine‑hole scoring average of 42. She is a three‑time regional qualifier and was a consistent contributor throughout her career. Her coach describes her as a long hitter with a smooth, controlled swing, as well as a strong leader who worked especially well with incoming freshmen. She is coachable, receptive to instruction, and is a positive presence within the program. Beyond the course, Amyshell excels academically and in student leadership. She is a member of the National Honor Society during her junior and senior years and is actively involved in Senior Council and the Pacific Islanders Club. Amyshell carries a 3.9 weighted GPA and a 3.4 unweighted GPA. She plans to attend New College, while keeping her options open, and intends to major in biology.
Casey Most Valuable Golfer Award – Boys
Brady Sanacore, Plant High School
Brady lettered all four years in boys' golf and finished his high school career with a scoring average of 40. He advanced to regional competition in each of his four seasons and qualified for the state tournament as a freshman. On the national stage, Brady placed second overall in the Under Armour Golf League, posting a two‑day score of four‑under par. Brady’s coach describes him as a rare student‑athlete—exceptionally dedicated, organized, and relentlessly results‑oriented. He demonstrates outstanding character, discipline, and leadership, consistently exceeding expectations both in the classroom and on the course. A self‑motivated competitor, Brady leads by example, helping elevate and improve his teammates throughout the season. His commitment is evident in the countless hours he invests independently in practice and competition. Brady’s hard work, sportsmanship, and tenacity are apparent in every practice and match, and he is widely respected by teammates, peers, and teachers alike for his generosity, compassion, and willingness to support others. While golf is an individual sport, Brady embraces its challenges by continually pushing himself—and those around him—to improve. Reflecting his work ethic and performance, he served as the school’s No. 1 seeded golfer throughout the season. Academically, Brady excels with a 5.0 weighted GPA and a 3.8 unweighted GPA. He plans to attend Piedmont University, where he will continue his golf career.
Dr. Ben Walker Cross Country Award – Girls
Ainsley Aeschleman, Steinbrenner High School
Ainsley lettered all four years in girls’ cross country and established herself as one of the top runners in Hillsborough County. During her senior season, she finished as the county’s top senior runner in every meet she competed in, including the Hillsborough County Championship, where she raced against competitors from all 28 county schools.
Ainsley recorded the fastest 5K time among all seniors this season, clocking a 19:04.9 at the 4A Region 3 Championship Meet. She is a three‑time qualifier for the FHSAA State Cross Country Championships, advancing to the state meet in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This year, she earned five top‑ten finishes and was named First‑Team All‑County for the second time in her career. A co‑captain of the team, Ainsley is known for her leadership and positivity. Her coach praises her commitment to welcoming and mentoring younger runners while fostering a supportive team culture. She values the camaraderie of her teammates and enjoys the conversations shared during long training runs across the team’s many trails, consistently seeking to uplift others and help them enjoy the rigors of the sport. Academically, Ainsley maintains a 4.0711 weighted GPA and a 3.111 unweighted GPA. While she is still undecided on her college destination, she plans to pursue a degree in forensic science.
Dr. Ben Walker Cross Country Award – Boys
Luca Martin, Steinbrenner High School
Luca lettered all four years in boys’ cross country and served as a team captain during his career. He set the school record as a junior with a time of 15:21, then lowered it twice during his senior season, posting times of 15:19 and 15:17. As a junior, Luca captured both district and county championships. During his senior season, he repeated as district champion and finished as the county and regional runner‑up. He played a key role in leading his team to back‑to‑back district championships and was a three‑time regional finisher for his team, consistently placing first among his teammates. Luca has been nominated multiple times for Florida Runners’ “Runner of the Week” honors and is currently ranked among the top eight runners in the state in Class 4A. His coach describes him as an athlete who never makes excuses and is fully committed to the program. Luca consistently shows up, works hard, and motivates his teammates to do the same, holding both himself and others to high standards in practice and academics. He approaches setbacks as learning opportunities, using them as motivation to improve with a relentless, never‑quit attitude. Academically, Luca excels with a 5.2 weighted GPA and a 3.56 unweighted GPA. He is currently undecided on his college destination but plans to pursue a degree in health science.
Award photos can be accessed at the following link. When sharing or publishing, please credit HCPS: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/c4nt455kpm4s80igssgnj/ABFLVCMO1ZqrOo-Rp8J-PQw?rlkey=t0tsycwgz7nruhi8d3fb8seop&st=z3c1rh57&dl=0