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Athlete Makes The Grade

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Okeefe Simmons, a senior at Tampa Bay Tech, was recently named to the 14th annual Florida High School Athletic Association’s Academic All-State Team.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

RIVERVIEW - The news that he had received a prestigious academic and athletic honor came at just the right time for Okeefe Simmons.

"It was the day after regionals for the track team, and we'd just lost," Simmons said. "So it felt pretty good to get some good news right away."

On April 24, Joe Reid, athletic director at Tampa Bay Tech, informed Simmons that he had qualified for the 14th annual Florida High School Athletic Association's Academic All-State Team.

To be eligible for the team, a student must be a graduating senior, have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two sports during each of his or her junior and senior years.

This year's roster features eight valedictorians and 11 three-sport athletes.

Simmons, 17, lettered in cross country, soccer and track and field each of his four years at Tampa Bay Tech, and also earned a letter for tennis during his sophomore year. He was captain of the cross country, soccer and track and field teams for two years.

He cites soccer and track as his favorite sports.

"I really like the individual part of track and field," said Simmons, who participated in the 4X400 and 4X800 relay. "For soccer, I like the team aspect of it - everyone moving as one to make things work."

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Simmons also earned a 3.9 unweighted - 6.53 weighted - grade point average and is the class salutatorian and student body president.

Born in Manhattan, N.Y., his family moved to Seffner when he was 2 and to Riverview when he was in middle school. He attended Eisenhower Middle School in eighth grade before moving on to Tampa Bay Tech.

As part of being named to the All-State team, each of the 24 honorees - 12 boys and 12 girls from more than 70 qualified nominees in the athletic association's 650 member schools - will receive $1,000 and a commemorative medallion.

From the 24 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year - one boy and one girl - will be announced at an awards banquet June 12 at One Ocean Resort in Atlantic Beach.

The Scholar-Athletes of the Year will receive an additional $3,000 each, as well as a trophy.

Simmons, who plans to attend Florida State University and study athletic training and pre-medicine to become a surgeon, is proud to receive his latest honor - even if he's not sure how he accomplished it.

"I don't really know how I did it," said Simmons, of keeping his grades up while juggling his numerous athletic commitments.

"I had to learn a lot of time-management skills, but it's worked out pretty well for me."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Okeefe Simmons

AGE: 17

PARENTS: Beverly and Lauchland Simmons

SCHOOL: Tampa Bay Tech

GRADE: 12th

SPORTS: Cross country, track and field, soccer, tennis

FUTURE PLANS: Plans to attend Florida State University and study athletic training and pre-medicine to become a surgeon

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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