The winning varsity boys soccer team. The Deer Park School District provides its students with opportunities to develop healthy minds and bodies through their successful athletic program. Promoting an environment where students learn about teamwork, hone problem-solving skills and interact through positive competition, each grade level offers students a chance to connect with their peers and educators.

To further encourage studentathletes of Deer Park to excel both on the field and in the classroom, Board of Education members, administrators and community members came together to honor these outstanding community representatives. Combining their talent on the field and their academic performance in the classroom, 11 Deer Park High School teams were recognized by the Section XI Athletic Association as New York State Scholar Athlete teams. This designation means that as a group each team maintained a grade point average of 90 or better throughout their entire athletic season.

In addition, four Deer Park squads were awarded the distinction of being named New York State Section XI Sportsmanship Teams, which means that during competitions their fair play earned the respect of opponents, coaches and officials.

"Building students' selfesteem and cultivating talent and commitment is what our program strives to accomplish with every student athlete," stated Deer Park Athletic Director Anthony Amesti. "These athletes exemplify the pride and spirit of the Deer Park community."

Thefollowing teams received New York State Scholar-Athlete status as well as had individual players earning All-State, All- County, Academic All-County, All-Conference and All-League awards: varsity football, varsity girls soccer, varsity boys soccer, varsity girls swimming, varsity girls tennis, varsity girls volleyball, varsity boys cross country, varsity girls cross country, varsity cheerleading, varsity girls kickline and marching band.

The following teams earned New York State Sportsmanship Team Winners: varsity boys soccer, varsity girls volleyball, Robert Frost boys soccer and Robert Frost girls soccer.

The Deer Park community came together to honor its 11 New York State Scholar-Athlete teams, as well as four New York State Sportsmanship Team Winners, including the varsity boys soccer team.