Socorro also excels inside the classroom

Warrior athletes make the grade

   The Warriors are putting the student back in the term "student-athlete".

By Joe Warren

El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

jwarren@dchieftain.com

   The first nine-week grading period has culminated recently, and the grades are in at Socorro High School.

   It is safe to say that the Warriors have passed.

   The New Mexico Activities Association requires that athletes maintain a 2.0 grade-point average, and all four of Socorro's fall sports teams were well above that mark collectively.

   The volleyball team had a cumulative average of 3.20, and impressive as it is, that was the lowest team mark of the four.

   The football team and the boys soccer team had outstanding marks of 3.56 and 3.57, respectively.

   The girls soccer team had the highest grade-point average among the athletic teams, registering a 3.85 mark on a 4.00 scale.

   "That's way above the state requirement," Athletics Director Randy Valles said about all the teams.

   Socorro High School Principal Dan Padilla was happy with the academic performance of the student-athletes.

   "Everybody is working hard," he said.

   "The teachers are working hard and the kids are working hard. If anybody deserves the credit, it's the kids."

   Padilla said that a combination of things have helped get the students focused on learning, from the facilities being remodeled to the tutoring programs available.

   "Everything is coming together," he said.

   Padilla also mentioned that the coaches have a lot to do with keeping the students focused on their grades.

   "The coaches have done a good job of keeping everyone focused on our primary responsibility, and that is education," Padilla said.

   Valles said the school is constantly monitoring the academic standing of the student-athletes.

   "We run grade checks every week to keep them on task," Valles said.

   Football coach James Palacios said that he always emphasizes to his players the importance of their education.

   "Winning is great, but we've also got to have smart kids too," Palacios said.

   "It's the future."

   "I ask a lot of time from them, but when it comes down to it, I care for their education," he said.

   Palacios has gotten his players involved with a before-school tutoring program that runs from 7:20 a.m. until school starts.

   Palacios said that he has encouraged all of his players to take advantage of the program if they need time to do or help with their work.

   "It has worked great. I went from having over 40 in the tutoring program, and it went to about 18," he said.

   Palacios said that he requires that his players maintain a minimum grade of 75 in each class.

   "If they get below that, they have to sign a contract with the teacher," he said.

   The contract is an agreement that the students will do whatever work is necessary to get the average above 75.

   Palacios said that he has only had a few instances where he actually had to initiate a contract.

   "We've got a great bunch of kids," he said.