Libertyville Baseball Team Excels Academically

Nick Farmakis and his teammates from Libertyville’s baseball team have achieved significant success on the field over the past two seasons. They secured back-to-back Class 4A state titles. Their academic accomplishments set them apart as well. The American Baseball Coaches Association recognized Libertyville as one of 20 Illinois high schools to receive the Team Academic Excellence Award. They are the sole recipient from Lake County.

Farmakis attributes their success to overlapping qualities in athletics and academics. He emphasizes discipline, accountability, and time management. He notes the importance of staying ahead in classes to excel athletically.

A lot of the areas that lead to us succeeding on the baseball field overlap into academics, like discipline, accountability and time management.

The award’s criteria requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Libertyville’s coach, Matt Thompson, explains the school supports students academically. He receives academic reports indicating students who struggle, and the list is often short.

Baseball is important to us and to these kids, but they know that getting good grades will help open other opportunities for them.

For Farmakis, his successful academic endeavors include passing Advanced Placement exams. This provided him with 15 credit hours towards his undergraduate degree as a pre-business student at Indiana.

To accommodate players taking AP exams, the team adjusted activities. These exams occur near the school year’s end, challenging time management. Farmakis, adept at balancing academics and three sports, focuses on completing school work promptly. He utilized resources such as study halls and time during bus rides.

On the field, Farmakis served as a reserve outfielder. Though he didn’t frequently bat, his defensive skills and pinch running were crucial. He scored 24 runs in 20 plate appearances and earned nine steals in 10 attempts. His strategic observations of pitchers, from their delivery to base-running tactics, contributed to his effectiveness.

Coach Thompson praised Farmakis for accepting his role and thriving within it, maintaining positive team dynamics. Farmakis exhibited keen preparation, studying pitcher tendencies diligently.

At the end of the day, they still have to throw it home, so it’s about putting yourself out there to have success.

Promoted to varsity for playoffs in 2025, Farmakis scored the lone run in a crucial game against Prospect. His aggressive play facilitated his scoring after a teammate’s hit and a defensive error. Farmakis humorously recalls the incident involving his helmet.

That was probably the best result I’ve ever had from getting hit in the head.