By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Seniors Andrew Cuthbert, Adam Hess and Mike Kasper, along with the Dowagiac varsity football team, have been named Academic All-State by the various coaches associations.
The Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association named Cuthbert and Hess Academic All-State.
"They are first class students and athletes," Dowagiac soccer coach Mike Williams said of Cuthbert and Hess. "They always strive for excellence. Their dedication to academics and athletics has made them an important part of our school and team. It was a pleasure and honor coaching them over the past three years. I wish them well in and know that they will be successful in whatever they do."
Kasper was named Academic All-State in both baseball and football.
"Mike Kasper is an outstanding student athlete. He is the model of what a true athlete should strive for, both excellence in the classroom and on the playing field," Dowagiac baseball coach Andy Kruger said. "He is a leader and a positive role model in the community. He is truly a class act!"
The Chieftain varsity football team was named honorable mention Academic All-State with a team grade point average of 3.400.
"He carries the same work ethic in the classroom that he does on the field. He works hard to be the best he can be. We are very proud of him. As a team, we are proud of the kid. Honorable mention All-State for a second year in a row is an honor. What we are trying to push to our kids is that the academics are very important if they want to continue on and play football. The day and age of just coming out and playing football are over. It has to be the complete package of student and athlete, not just athlete. We are trying put that in the kids as freshmen and sophomores. They need to keep that in mind if they truly want to continue on and play college football."
Southwestern Michigan was well represented on the team.
Lakeshore's football team was Academic All-State in Division 3, while St. Joseph and Niles were honorable mention honorees.
In Division 4, Three Rivers was Academic All-State, while Coloma joined the Chieftains as honorable mention picks.
In Division 6, Constantine was All-State, while Brandywine earned honorable mention status.
Brandywine's Matt Duckett was named to the special mention portion of the squad.