The Pensacola News Journal's high school Team of the Year competition has narrowed its field to eight finalists after over 32,000 votes, including schools like Pace baseball and Pensacola Catholic volleyball. Voting is now open to select the Final Four teams, which ends at 11 a.m. CT on June 20. The finalists achieved notable success, with many teams winning multiple championships. Key results from the voting show that Jay boys weightlifting led with over 34% of votes while other teams like Pace softball and Booker T. Washington also received significant support.

By the Numbers
  • Jay boys weightlifting received 34.82% of total votes (11,178 votes).
  • Pace baseball and softball combined for a total of 9,861 votes (30.72%).
  • Eight teams in the Final 8 collectively won seven district championships and two state championships.
State of Play
  • Voting for the Final Four teams is ongoing, ending at 11 a.m. CT on June 20.
  • Eight finalists include Booker T. Washington girls basketball and Pace baseball among others.
  • Teams are competing based on their impressive earlier results throughout the season.
What's Next

As the voting deadline approaches, expect heightened engagement from fans eager to support their teams. The performance in past tournaments will likely influence the final vote outcome. Additionally, teams like Pace baseball may leverage their state titles to boost popularity and votes.

Bottom Line

The competition for the PNJ Team of the Year underscores the achievements of local high school athletics, highlighting both community involvement and school pride. As fans rally to support their teams, the importance of these competitions lies in celebrating athletic excellence and unity in the Pensacola area.