Surrounded by fellow students, staff, family members and All Sports Association representatives in Niceville High School’s media center, seniors Max Diehl and Sophie Broutin received surprising news Friday morning – they are the 2025 All Sports Association Scholastic Award winners.
- “This is a huge honor for you guys. From the school, we’re certainly very proud of you,” said Principal Charlie Marello during the announcement. “When I got the call that we actually won both, that’s unprecedented at Niceville High School.”
The awards recognize outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics across Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties.
Diehl, who maintains a 4.77 weighted GPA and ranks first in his class of 475 students, serves as captain of the boys’ lacrosse team. He has led the team to state playoff appearances in consecutive seasons.
- Currently seeking a congressional nomination to one of the United States service academies, Diehl has focused on service work, personally raising $5,000 in donations for Bed 4 Me, a nonprofit organization providing beds and bedding to children.
Broutin, who also holds a 4.77 weighted GPA, was named NHS Volleyball MVP and Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year. Her athletic achievements include earning bids to compete at both Beach and Indoor Nationals. She was also selected as Northwest Florida Daily News Athlete of the Week for volleyball, receiving over 150,000 votes in the poll.
“When you have students who not only excel academically but also athletically, that’s what we want…well rounded students,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “In our school district, we want to be about academics, athletics and the arts, and this symbolizes that.”
Kevin Bowyer, president of the All Sports Association, noted that the awards are part of the organization’s annual banquet, which raises funds for four charities: the Boys and Girls Club, Eleanor Johnson Youth Center, the FCA, and Special Olympics.
- The achievement marks a rare occurrence of one school winning both the male and female scholastic awards in the same year, following Choctawhatchee High School’s double win last year.
Both students have participated in advanced academic programs. Diehl scored a 30 on his ACT and has completed multiple AP and AICE courses. He attended both Air Force Academy and Naval Academy Summer Seminars during his junior year. Broutin serves as Key Club President and Vice President of Science National Honor Society.
The students were selected from a pool of nominees representing schools across the region.
