Miami Lakes resident Mario Muxo, 16, was awarded the Outstanding Academic All-American for his achievements in the water and in the classroom by the non-profit organization, USA Water Polo.
USA Water Polo, recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for water polo in the U.S., hosts championship events annually and oversees the Olympic water polo program, including senior, junior, youth and cadet national teams.
The organization awards Academic All-American and Outstanding Academic All-American certificates to qualifying water polo students nationwide. Student athletes need a 3.6 GPA on a scale of 4.0 to qualify as an Academic All-American and those that received a 4.0 GPA are honored as Outstanding Academic All-Americans
. A total of 622 outstanding achievers nationwide were awarded. Muxo was one of eight to be recognized in the state of Florida. Muxo, a junior at Christopher Columbus Senior High School (CCHS) who boasts a 4.3 weighted GPA, represented the Gulliver Riptides Water Polo Team which attended the Junior Olympic Tournament in California this past July.
Muxo, in the 16 and under bracket, averaged 1 goal, 2 assists and 2 steals per game. He also participated in a water polo Olympic development program. At CCHS, Muxo completed his sophomore year with his water polo team, finishing in first place at the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) and third place at districts.
Muxo's father, Mario Muxo Sr. said "He is looking forward to leading his high school to a state title." Muxo intends to pursue water polo and his academics at a Division 1 university following his 2015 graduation.