DOBSON — The Surry Central High School girls basketball team has gathered the title of “highest GPA for girls basketball in North Carolina.” The Lady Golden Eagles team had an unweighted score of 3.88. Central’s indoor track team also finished first in the state with a GPA 3.9.

Varsity Basketball Coach Mandy Holt pointed out that this honor was earned in comparison to all girls teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association among 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A schools.

“Our girls take honors classes and advanced placement classes, college level courses,” said Holt. “This is a remarkable achievement. They are really taking challenging courses. most are three-sport athletes. They don’t have a day off.”

This follows on the heels of the Golden Eagle boys team last year, who earned the title.

“The girls kinda said ‘we can do that!,’ when the boys got it,” added Holt. “It says a lot about these girls as scholar athletes. They are scholars first and athletes second.”

Last season the varsity football team also finished first with the highest GPA.

Holt, who has been at the helm of the Eagles for four years, said that it takes a lot of organization on the part of her athletes to get it all done academically and on the court. This is the first year under her leadership the team captured first with the highest GPA.

Three other teams from Surry Central have finished in the top three in this category. They are the boys basketball team, who was second, and the girls volleyball and the cheerleading team, who finished in the top three.

Only one senior, Maddie White, graduates from Holt’s squad this year.

“The girls are saying let’s be state champs in academics and in the conference next year,” commented Holt. “They are shooting for an award in both. I’m not sure if that’s ever been done.”