For their efforts on the football field, in the classroom, and in the community, 42 exemplary high school student-athletes were honored Monday night at the 56th annual Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner sponsored by the Toledo Wistert Chapter of the National Football Federation.
After a busy day of spring practice, pro day, and a trip to Mercy Hospital to visit the children’s wing, University of Toledo head football coach Jason Candle spoke to the crowd gathered at the SeaGate Centre.
Candle recalled when he was an assistant at Mount Union under legendary head coach Larry Kehres. Kehres was speaking at a similar NFF banquet and Candle was just the assistant along for the ride and the driver for the night.
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“I sat back in my chair as a young assistant coach, and I only really had one thing in mind,” Candle told the crowd. “I couldn’t wait to get out of there to be honest with you. I didn’t really understand the importance of what [Kehres] was trying to teach me and where I was going with this. It was that night and that moment that I really realized what I wanted to do and what my purpose was. For me on that ride home that night, there was a lot of silence in the car. Finally I looked over at coach and I just said, ‘Hey, I just want to say thanks.’ It was kind of an awkward moment. But you have to sit back and thank the people and the individuals who got you to this place and time.”
Jack Linch of Toledo and Nate Locke of Bowling Green each were honored with post-graduate scholarships from their respective school at the banquet.
Also receiving scholarship awards were past NFF honorees that are now in college. That group included Nick Frederick (Ohio State and Edison), Jacob Wickenheiser (Toledo and Ida), Cade McClellan (Bluffton and Edgerton), Triston Novak (Findlay and Patrick Henry), Conner Ashman (Toledo and Bowling Green High School), and Zach Carpenter (Wright State and Liberty Center).
Larry Morrison was honored with the Distinguished Service Award, Nick Lenyo received the Tim Berta Courage Award, John Zadell received the Tom Santoro Assistant Coaches Award, Tony Esposito received the Junior League Award, Steve Junga was honored with the Media Award, and Ken Katafias and Bob Waggoner were Officiating Honorees.
Anthony Wayne’s Cole Ragan spoke on behalf of the student athletes and made sure to thank those who helped him get to where he is now.
“This night is not in my eyes meant to glorify or honor our accomplishments, but to recognize those who have sacrificed so much and have cared enough to give us the opportunity to achieve what we have,” Ragan said in his speech. “This night is to recognize the senior football class, but more importantly those who helped us on our journey.”
Candle mentioned the importance of understanding not only the “what” when it comes to daily endeavors and the pursuit of success, but also the “why”.
“As a football team, we understand what our purpose is and we understand where we are going with all this,” Candle said. “We understand why we do what we do and we never lose focus of that. It makes the days become easier and that makes the weeks become easier and that makes the months become easier. Ultimately at the end of the day, that’s what led us to a [Mid-American Conference] championship. That is a firm belief and if we can continue to do that, we will put ourselves in position to have that opportunity again hopefully in the near future.”
Contact Brian Buckey at: bbuckey@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @BrianBuckey.
First Published March 20, 2018, 2:29 a.m.
