The Tigers haven't played in the girls state hockey tournament since 2008 but that doesn't mean they haven't added to their already bulging trophy case.
On the ice the girls won back-to-back Missota Conference crowns in 2010 and 2011 and in the classroom they won two straight Section 1AA academic championships.
This year the Tigers made it three consecutive section academic titles and on Sunday coach Jon Holmes and his team learned they had been named the the 2012 Class AA academic state champions
Two of the four senior captains, Jessica Erchul and Katie Burgess, accepted the award at the Ms. Hockey banquet held at the Xcel Energy Center.
Holmes said he and his players realize the object of the games is to win and everyone strives to bring home the conference and section championships.
"But when you really dive into what we preach and what we strive for as far as life lessons learned in athletics," he said. "This award is probably the most prestigious that a team can earn.
"It's a huge honor and all the credit goes to the girls since they are the ones who find themselves studying at away games and setting up structures where upperclassmen help the younger players with their academics."
The Tiger coach explained that the 12 highest grade-point averages of rostered players are used to determine the team average with the 13th, 14th and 15th highest averages used as tie-breakers.
Farmington's cumulative average was an impressive 3.854 on a perfect 4.000 scale.
"That was good enough to make us the smartest team in Minnesota," Holmes said. "We made winning the section award again one of our pre-season goals and I know it was in the back of the girls' minds throughout the year. We are very proud of them."
