JACKSONVILLE – Ever wonder who has the top athletic programs in the area. Wonder no more as for the second straight year DuvalSports has named their top athletic programs of the year.
In a new twist this year, in addition to naming the top overall athletic program we decided to break it down by county also.
So we present the top athletic programs in Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, rural counties, Duval Private and Public schools.
Points are awarded based on how teams finish in the FHSAA state playoff series in 27 sports with teams earning 100 points for winning a state title.
A state runner-up is awarded 90 points and points are awarded in 5 point increments all the way to tenth with 50 points. Placing between 11-15 at state is worth 45 points, a sixteenth (Sweet 16) finish is worth 40 points, 17-24 finish worth 35 points and 25-32 worth 30 points.
Our Rural Programs of the Year are from surrounding counties, Baker, Bradford, Putnam, Columbia, Flagler and Union counties.
What a year it was for the Baker County Wildcats program starting with a magical run all the way to the Class 5A state title game in football. For a program that had never been past the second round, the Wildcats finally got the monkey off their back and kept it going all the way to Orlando.
The Wildcats picked up points in girls swimming (45), volleyball (30), a state runner-up in girls weightlifting (90) and 65 points from cheerleading.
Boys weightlifting claimed its tenth overall state title in the spring to pick up 100 points and softball also picked up 40 valuable points as well to help the Wildcats run away with the title.
Palm Coast gave them a run for the money scoring in nine sports with points coming from girls swimming (35), football (30), girls weightlifting (80), cheerleading (75), girls basketball (40), girls soccer (40), wrestling (40), boys weightlifting (30) and girls tennis (30).
Union County also made it challenging with finishes in volleyball (90), football (40), cheerleading (100), boys weightlifting (45), and softball (40).
Rural Athletic Program of the Year
School, Points
1 Baker County (460)
2 Palm Coast (400)
3 Union County (315)
4 Matanzas (290)
5 Bradford (260)
6 Columbia (235)
7 Palatka (185)
8 Fort White (135)
9 Crescent City (100)
10 Interlachen (65)
