via the press releases of the FHSAA and the Florida Dairy Farmers, photo by Billy D Photography

Note: Apologies to Megan for not hearing her name on Morning Coffee; we’ll certainly mention it Monday!

Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team

The Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team recognition program honors 24 graduating seniors from around the state who excel in both athletics and academics. Each honoree will receive a $1,700 award, as well as a commemorative medallion, from the FHSAA for being selected to the team. From among the 24 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year, one boy and one girl, will be announced at the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Awards Banquet each June. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the most prestigious honors conferred on an active student-athlete by the Association, will receive an additional $4,600 each, as well as a trophy.

The 6 lacrosse players are:

Kathryn Adams, Episcopal (Jacksonville) – Kathryn Adams owns a 4.0 GPA and is at the top of her class.  She is a National Merit Semifinalist, Advanced Placement Scholar and received two Silver Keys at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Throughout her high school career, she has participated in four varsity sports including volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, and beach volleyball. Adams has served as class president and Eagle Ambassador for the past three years. She has accumulated over 200 service hours through Dance Marathon and the North Florida School of Special Education Equestrian Therapy Program. Adams is the daughter of John and Ashley Adams and plans to study English or creative writing this fall.

Jack Bancroft, Out of Door (Sarasota) – Jack Bancroft owns a 4.0 GPA and ranks fifth in his senior class of 84 students.  The Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction is a member of Cum Laude Society and received a perfect score on the ACT.  Bancroft received four varsity letters in football and three varsity letters in soccer and lacrosse.  He is a member of the Florida Orchestra Association All-State Honors Orchestra as a bassist while also serving as club president for the past three years. He has worked for over 450 service hours by volunteering at a local hospital and through his work with tutoring, youth soccer, and music. He is the son of Josiah and Laura Bancroft. He plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa to study biology.

Hyatt Criser, Plant (Tampa) – Hyatt Criser owns a 4.0 GPA and ranks in the top of his class. The Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction is a member of the National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Honor Society and Order of the Gold and Black. Criser earned varsity letters in lacrosse and swimming and diving all four years of high school. He is a three-time regional champion for lacrosse and a two-time American Division Western Conference Champion for swimming.  Criser serves as senior class president, Editor-in-Chief of his school newspaper, and co-president of his school’s student section, Gold Rush.

He has earned over 430 hours of community service through his work with Teens in Action, Cornerstone, and Camp Terrapin. He is the son of Mark and Heather Criser and plans to study neuroscience in the fall at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Caroline or University of Texas in Austin, Texas.

Megan Griggs, Forest (Ocala) – Megan Griggs owns a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in a senior class of 462 students. She has earned nine varsity letters throughout her high school career in golf, lacrosse, weightlifting, and track and field. In 2020, Griggs was the Marion County Golfer of the Year. Beyond sports, she currently serves as Student Body Historian and National Honor Society Vice President of Service. She has accumulated over 450 service hours by working with Church of Springs and Young Life. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristie Griggs. This fall, she will be attending Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina to study sports medicine.

Abigail Lofstead, Palm Beach Central (Wellington) – Abigail Lofstead owns a 4.0 GPA, received her Cambridge AICE Diploma, and ranks fifth in her senior class of 675 students. She is a four-sport varsity athlete participating in lacrosse, soccer, cross country, and golf throughout high school. Outside of sports, she served as her school’s vice president and head of community service. She was also an AICE program committee leader, founded the Women in Stem club, and was the Environmental Honor Society president. She accrued more than 260 service hours through her work with UNICEF, Key Club and Dance Marathon. She is the daughter of Geoff and Tricia Lofstead and plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville in the fall to study biology.

Bella Rosa, St. Stephens (Bradenton) – Bella Rosa owns a 3.86 GPA, is an Advanced Placement National Scholar and a member of the National Hispanic Recognition program. Rosa earned varsity letters in golf and lacrosse all four years of high school. She was named an All-Academic All-American in the sport of lacrosse. In her senior year, she served as treasurer of her senior class and Spirit Club president. She has accrued over 200 community service hours through volunteering with Younglife, youth lacrosse, and tutoring. She is the daughter of Miguel and Tracey Rosa and plans to study engineering in the fall.

About Florida Dairy Farmers
Florida Dairy Farmers (FDF) is Florida’s milk promotion organization, representing the state’s hardworking dairy farm families who locally produce more than 300 million gallons of fresh milk each year. FDF’s sponsorship of the Academic All-State Team complements the organization’s long history of supporting Florida’s student-athletes.

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.