The Cypress Woods High School football program was named the inaugural recipient of the 2021-2022 National Football Foundation High School Academic Excellence Award. The Board of Trustees recognized the team during its committee-of-the-whole meeting on Feb. 10. On hand for the recognition, from left, were Gary Kinninger, Cypress Woods principal, Cody Simper, Cypress Woods head football coach and campus athletic coordinator, and Ray Zepeda, CFISD director of athletics. They are joined by Board of Trustees President Tom Jackson.

Feb. 10, 2022—The Cypress Woods High School football program was named the inaugural recipient of the 2021-2022 National Football Foundation High School Academic Excellence Award, earning the national honor among 62 finalists across 13 states. 

The Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) joined 29 other state high school associations in recognizing and honoring programs that demand excellence both in the classroom and on the football field. Teams must have a 3.0 grade point average or above to qualify as a state finalist. Bridgeland and Cypress Park high schools joined Cypress Woods as state finalists.

Cypress Woods was selected state champion by the THSCA on Feb. 2 and the eventual national champion. The award was presented in partnership between the National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame.

The Board of Trustees recognized the team during its committee-of-the-whole meeting on Feb. 10.

The Cypress Woods football team earned a collective 3.9 cumulative GPA. Fifty members earned Academic All-District 16-6A accolades, while 17 students earned THSCA Academic All-State honors.

“The NFF is proud to present the inaugural NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award to Cypress Woods High School,” said Archie Manning, NFF chairman and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback. “All of the school’s players, coaches, administrators and their families should all be incredibly proud of the team’s accomplishments. We hope by inspiring teams to compete in the classroom with the same competitive spirit that it takes to win on the field, we will better prepare high school football players for success later in life.”

The Cypress Woods football team earned a collective 3.9 cumulative GPA. Fifty members earned Academic All-District 16-6A accolades. In addition, 17 students earned THSCA Academic All-State honors.

“The Cypress Woods football program exemplifies our campus’ culture of our student-athletic programs,” Cypress Woods Principal Gary Kinninger said in the team’s nomination form. “Our athletes, first and foremost, take care of business in the classroom. The program is guided by the 212 spirit—to push yourself just a little further to reach your full academic potential, and as a result experiencing many more successes in all aspects of their lives.”

The Wildcats went 6-5 during the 2021 season, finishing as 16-6A’s fourth seed and Class 6A Division I bi-district finalists. The postseason berth is the program’s fourth consecutive.

The Cypress Woods High School football program was named the inaugural recipient of the 2021-2022 National Football Foundation High School Academic Excellence Award. The Wildcats were selected state champion by the Texas High School Coaches Association on Feb. 2. Cypress Woods earned the national award among 62 finalists across 13 states.

“This recognition carries tremendous value for our team, staff and school,” said Cody Simper, Cypress Woods head football coach and campus athletic coordinator. “It is validation for our kids as they work tirelessly toward our purpose of providing leadership that inspires school pride and a world-class learning environment. Wildcat student-athletes thrive on the competitive academic environment at Cypress Woods High School. Our overall school culture produces well-rounded students who are accomplished both in extracurricular activities and academically.”