Three Queensbury High School athletes — Kendra Ballard, Adrian Caron and Kyle Ball — have been named All Americans by the National High School Strength Coaches Association. 
This award is given annually to high school athletes who have demonstrated outstanding achievement on and off the field regarding strength and conditioning, athletic performance, academics and leadership.
All three students were nominated in February by Queensbury coach John Martin, who also serves as the New York State director for NHSSCA.
“There are standards and metrics they have to meet, both strength and performance-wise, in order to qualify,” Martin said. “There are also standards that we look for as far as GPA is concerned. They need to have letters of reference as well as accolades athletically.”
Seniors Kendra Ballard and Adrian Caron are four-year Varsity athletes and members of the school’s Captain’s Club. Kendra plays field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Adrian is a baseball player, who will play at Amherst College next year.
“They are two of our most dedicated student-athletes that we have here at Queensbury as far as taking their athletic performance very seriously,” Martin said.
Kyle Ball, a thrower for the track and field team, was able to meet the criteria as a high school junior, which is unusual, Martin said.
This is the first time Queensbury student-athletes have been named All Americans. In order to nominate athletes, the school has to be considered a Program of Excellence, a certification Queensbury UFSD was awarded last year.
“It boosts your applicants up to the top,” Martin said. “They know then that the athletes who are being nominated are coming from a program that has been vetted.”