Ali Ince and Dexter Niekamp were named among the 26 members selected for the 2024 Illinois High School Association All-State Academic Team on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
The honorees, nominated by their high schools, demonstrated a minimum 3.50 GPA while participating in at least two IHSA-sponsored activities during each of the last two years of high school and exhibited outstanding citizenship.
A committee consisting of IHSA principals, athletic directors and activities directors evaluated the nominations. Initially, one male and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected, with the remaining 12 spots filled by at-large candidates from across the state.
Community was the lone school to have both a male and female athlete named to the list.
Both Ince and Niekamp are three-sport athletes for the Ironmen, with Ince a standout on the school’s cross country, track and field and basketball teams and Niekamp suiting up for Community’s basketball, baseball and football team.
Ince and Niekamp, along with their peers, will be recognized at a banquet in Bloomington on Monday, April 8.