The Montgomery High School Bears football program has been named state finalists by the Texas High School Coaches Association for the 2021-2022 National Football Foundation’s High School Academic Excellence Award. This designation recognizes athletic programs that command excellence on the field and in the classroom.
“We are very excited to be named a finalist for this outstanding award,” Montgomery HS Head Football Coach John Bolfing said. “Our athletes’ dedication to their academic studies in addition to their chosen sport is, and always will be, a priority for our coaching staff. We’re proud of their success in the classroom as well as on the field.”
To qualify for the award, the team must maintain a 3.0-grade point average. The Bears are one of only 84 high schools across the state, and only 18 of the 5A schools to be named finalists for the award.
“By stressing the importance of academic success, Coach Bolfing and his staff are preparing these student-athletes for success beyond their high school careers,” Montgomery ISD Athletic Director Clint Heard said. “In Montgomery ISD, there’s an expectation for student-athletes to be role models on and off the field. To us, being named a finalist for this award recognizing their academic success is just as important as their athletic accomplishments.”
This recognition is the latest in a string of accolades earned by the Bears in the 2021-2022 school year. Last fall, they concluded their 2021 season with an 11-1 record, earning the UIL District 10 5A Division 2 title and advancing to the second round of the UIL playoffs.
“A student athlete’s success is often publicly celebrated, however, the hard work and commitment needed for academic success is often overlooked,” TX HS Coaches Association’s Executive Director Joe Martin said. “At a time when students need the support of their teachers and coaches the most, the Montgomery HS football staff’s dedication to developing the whole child is to be applauded.”
The Texas High School Coaches Association is a leadership organization that provides continuing education, resources and other services to its members across Texas.
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to promote and develop amateur football’s impact by developing leadership qualities, sportsmanship and the drive for academic excellence in America’s youth. The NFF will announce the State Champions and National Finalist for each classification on February 2, 2022. The National Champions will be announced in February during Super Bowl Week. More information about the National Football Foundation and the High School Academic Excellence Awards can be found on their website, https://footballfoundation.org.
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