Prairie High School’s varsity slowpitch softball team was recently named the 2021 Academic 3A state champions after the team maintained a combined grade point average of 3.58.
The title was given through the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and Gesa Credit Union’s scholastic awards program for the fall.
The team’s coach, Michelle Bergeron, is proud of the girls for winning the title.
“I’m pretty fortunate to have been blessed with such incredible girls,” Bergeron said. “It’s a first for me in all the 19 years that I coached, and I think what it takes to get this award is being blessed with the right group of ladies at the right time.”
Bergeron said she has high academic standards for players on the team. Most schools require a 2.5 GPA, which can include one F grade, but for her team specifically, she requires at least a 3.0 GPA and no failing grades. If a student falls below that threshold, they’re allowed practice, but they cannot participate in a game until they raise their GPA.
Bergeron said that wasn’t an issue for any of the girls on the team this year because they remained well above the requirement throughout the season.
This season, the team added five girls who had not played softball previously. Two of the five girls are seniors
Bergeron said that made the team better by having a mix of athletes. She added that watching the team grow and learn on and off the field was incredible to witness.
“It was more of a family and we just got to hang out and play ball together. It was nice,” she said.
During the season, the team won one regular game and one district game, but lost the rest.
