The season may have ended a few months ago, but the Weston Ranch varsity boys basketball team is still collecting awards and honors. The Cougars were informed they finished as runner-up in the Sac-Joaquin Section Academic Team Champions and were honored by Mayor of Stockton Kevin Lincoln for this accomplishment.
The Sac-Joaquin Section awards academic team championships for each season. Weston Ranch finished with a 3.75 cumulative GPA to earn second place for the 2022-2023 Winter sports selections.
“This is a terrific achievement for our student-athletes, and I’m very happy for them being recognized by the section for their scholastic achievement,” said head coach Nicholas Podesta. “They’ve had tremendous athletic and academic success, and the validation is warranted given the hard work these young men have put into the gym and the classroom these past two seasons.”
The accomplishment earned the Cougars a visit with Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln. In addition, Weston Ranch received recognition for its academic and athletic achievements on April 18. The team gathered on the steps of City Hall, where Mayor Lincoln presented the Cougars with a Certificate of Recognition.
“We were presented with a “Certificate of Recognition” by Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln II’s office at the City Council of Stockton meeting this past Tuesday,” Podesta added. “A few of our student-athletes were allowed to speak in front of the City Council, and it was an incredible experience for our team and their families.”
The recognition was a bonus to the SJAA Champions to receive the spotlight again. However, in a year where they ran off 19 straight victories, knocked out a #1 seed, and reached two final fours, one more accolade for academic achievement is the exclamation point.
“It’s beautiful to see the great things young people can accomplish when they buy into the process and give everything they have to reach their goals,” Podesta concluded. “I couldn’t be more proud or happy for this group… we’re doing some fantastic things here at The Ranch!”
