By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Three Osceola County High schools placed among the top 10 of their respective classes in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Academic Team Championship standings.

Gateway (56) placed fifth in Class 6A behind champion Vero Beach (120).

Osceola (87), with the highest points total in the county, was fifth in Class 5A behind Tarpon Springs East Lake (185).

Harmony (68) was sixth in Class 4A. Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (122) earned the championship.

Points are accumulated according to each team’s GPA.

Local high schools also fared well in the Spring Academic team standings. ­Teams must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to score.

Local schools were exceptional in tennis, where Harmony (3.837) was the No. 1 academic program in Class 3A girls tennis. Celebration (3.474), St. Cloud (3.259) and Liberty (3.217) also were ranked in Class 3A.

Gateway (3.830) was second in Class 4A. Osceola (3.488) also was ranked in Class 4A.

In boys tennis, Gateway (3.638) and Osceola (3.167) scored in Class 4A, and Harmony (3.605), Celebration (3.561), Liberty (3.087) and St. Cloud (3.008) all were ranked in 3A.

In baseball, Gateway (3.038), Osceola (3.338) were ranked in Class 4A and Harmony (3.267) in Class 3A.

Five Osceola County schools scored in softball: Gateway (3.139), Osceola (3.262), Harmony (3.426), St. Cloud (3.186) and Celebration (3.001).

Boys weightlifting teams from Celebration (3.092) and Osceola (3.051) were recognized, as were boys track teams from Osceola (3.055), Celebration (3.193), Harmony (3.112) and St. Cloud (3.028).

Every large high school in the county scored in girls track: Liberty (3.203), Gateway (3.121), Osceola (3.061), Harmony (3.481), Celebration (3.243), Poinciana (3.099) and St. Cloud (3.182).

Flag football teams from Celebration (3.322), Harmony (3.308), Gateway (3.170), St. Cloud (3.157), Osceola (3.152) and Liberty (3.079) made the spring academic roster.

The Osceola boys (3.498) and girls (3.466) water polo teams, and the Gateway girls (3.296) all scored among the top 10.