Fall Sports: Douglas sixth place in Award of Excellence standings

After one of the most successful fall sports seasons in Douglas High School history, the Tiger athletic program was ranked sixth in the 2007-08 Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Award of Excellence standings.

The NIAA, which began the Award of Excellence program in 2001, conducts a year-long scoring system whereby schools earn points based on their varsity teams' performance in the classroom, at the athletic venue and in the Citizenship Through Sports program.

Each of the three major categories representing high school activities - academics, sports and sportsmanship - are weighted equally and boys and girls teams are combined in the standings table. Points are also awarded at the conclusion of the winter season for student council and spirit group participation.

Points are deducted at the conclusion of the spring season for coach/player ejections and other unsportsmanlike conduct.

Through the fall season, Reno led the 4A schools with 1,000 points (440 athletic and 560 academic), followed by Carson, Galena, Palo Verde and Bishop Manogue.

Douglas, which won regional team titles in girls' golf, boys' soccer and individual titles in cross country (Whitney Lindsey) , girls' golf (Bethany Wurster) and girls' tennis (Amelia Ritger), came in sixth with 780 points (350 athletic and 430 academic).

Coleville High School was ranked fifth among 1A schools with 220 points.

The NIAA Award of Excellence will honor the winning school in each classification at the end of the school year by presenting it with a commemorative trophy and banner. The NIAA considers the Award of Excellence to be its top overall recognition program.