The Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association has awarded Academic All-State the Dowagiac varsity golf team.

The Chieftains posted a team GPA of 3.804.

The five players who participated in the Division 3 Golf Regional had their cumulative GPA counted toward the award.

The team consisted of Lewis Hartsig, Nick Saltzman, Drew Davis, Drew Phillips and Jonathan Stockwell.

“I think it says a lot about the term ‘student-athlete,’” said Dowagiac coach Bob Turner. “We, (coaches of all the sports), talk about it all the time, student comes first in student-athlete. Our kids put in a lot of time practicing their sport and it takes determination to stay up on the homework.

“Obviously we do a pretty good job of it in Dowagiac because we are not the only team to make academic all-state. The award does not define your season like winning conference or districts or state but it is nice to be able to show we are going about it the right way. It is definitely something to be proud of.”

In order to earn academic all-state, the five players that competed at regionals must have a combined GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 sale.

Players with a grade of A in all classes received bonus points based on their grade levels (i.e. sophomores receive 4.05, juniors receive 4.10 and seniors receive 4.15).

Schools must mail the five individual transcripts to the MIGCA to verify their GPAs.