Niceville High has won the Freedom Award – a distinction given to the area’s top-performing high school athletic program – 14 times in the past 15 years.

Judging by the recent release of the FHSAA’s Sunshine Cup all-sports award standings – the basis for the Freedom Award – a 15th title could be immiment.

Niceville’s athletic program finished the fall season ranked fifth overall in Class 6A with 203 points. Fort Walton Beach came in at eighth with 134 points.

Freeport is currently third overall in Class A with 122.5 points. Baker is sixth with 99 points.

A closer look at the rankings show Niceville’s girls are ranked second (193 points), while Baker’s girls are also second (100).

According to the FHSAA, points are awarded to a school based on its finish in the FHSAA State Series competition in each sport in the classification. The top 16 places are scored. In bracket sports, points are awarded as follows: 100 points for the state champion, 90 points for the state runner-up, 83 points for state semifinalists, 60 points for 5-8th places and 25 for 9-16th places.

In non-bracket sports, points are awarded thusly: 100, 90, 85, 80, 75, 63, 56, 49, 38, 34, 30, 26, 22, 18, 14, 10. Schools get a 5-point bonus for winning a district or regional championship and points are deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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