NORWICH – Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner football kids compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level (local) and moves up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level. For the Norwich Cyclones teams, last season saw five football players and one cheerleader meet the qualification requirements.

Those requirements are quite stringent – the Pop Warner Little Scholar All-American Program requires a minimum 96 percent grade point average to apply for All-American status. This grade point average must be for the entire school year meaning these athletes maintain their grades, even while taking part in their sport five days per week

Once their grades qualify the student athletes, they must outline their honors, achievements, and community service outside of their sport. The applications of the following six students included honors such as Student of the Month and placing in the county art competition; activities such as Odyssey of the Mind, jazz band, student government; and community service involvement in the Norwich Soup Kitchen and Relay for Life.