By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek’s success isn’t limited to the baseball diamond.
The Cougars have been recognized with the 2025-26 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, presented by the American Baseball Coaches Association, after posting an impressive 3.7 cumulative team GPA during the academic year.
The award recognizes high school and college baseball programs led by ABCA-member coaches that achieve a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. This year, more than 800 programs nationwide earned the distinction, including more than 320 high schools.
The academic honor comes on the heels of another successful season on the field. The Cougars won more than 20 games during the 2025 season and advanced to the Select School Division IV state semifinals.
“Being a student-athlete always has its challenges with balancing academics with practices and games,” said head coach Chad Yates. “As a coaching staff we challenge our team to not only give their best efforts on the field but in the classroom as well. We are super proud of our team and their commitment to the classroom.”
Cedar Creek’s 3.7 team GPA reflects the program’s emphasis on achieving excellence both in the classroom and on the field, highlighting the commitment of Cougar student-athletes to academic achievement.
The ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award was established in 2016 to honor programs that demonstrate a dedication to academic achievement while maintaining high standards of athletic competition.
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for amateur baseball coaches in the United States and includes members from high schools, colleges and professional baseball.
Cedar Creek’s recognition places the Cougars among an elite group of programs across the country that have excelled academically while competing at a high level on the baseball field.
