Since the Mansfield News Journal Scholar-Athlete program’s inception back in 1987, it has honored countless student-athletes all over mid-Ohio.
Here are the 2025-26 Mansfield News Journal Male Scholar-Athlete teams featuring the Top 10 along with 15 honorable mentions.
In no particular order:
Grantham Trumpower
School: Ontario High School
Parents: Jeff and Brooke Trumpower
Academics: Ontario High School Scholar-Athlete | Academic All-Ohio | Academic All-American | 4.34 grade point average.
Athletics: Swimming: Four-year letterman | 194 career victories | Five Ontario High School event records | 16-time Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion | Seven MOAC championship records | 16-time Ohio High School Athletic Association sectional champion | OHSAA sectional meet record holder in 50-freestyle (21 seconds) | 11-time OHSAA district champion | OHSAA district meet record holder in 200-medley relay (1:34.48) and 200-free relay (1:26.21) | 11-time OHSAA state medalist | OHSAA state champion and record holder in 200-free relay (1:24.32) | 14 All-Ohio honors | NISCA All-American Considerations in 200-medley relay, 50 free and 200-free relay | Two-time MOAC Swimmer of the Year | Two-time Ontario High School Most Valuable Swimmer | 2025-26 Mansfield News Journal Swimmer of the Year | Four-time Ontario High School Scholar-Athlete | Qualified for Speedo Sectional, TYR Futures Championship and Speedo Winter Junior Championship.
Activities: National Honor Society | Drug Free Senior | Buddy Mentoring | Key Club.
Principal’s Comment: “Grantham is not only an outstanding student athlete, as evidenced by his credentials, but also a young man of exceptional character and strong leadership ability. Evan is highly motivated and demonstrates an outstanding work ethic in all that he does here at OHS.” – Chris Smith.
Liam Kuhn
School: CrestviewHigh School
Parents: Tim and Kelly Kuhn
Academics: 4.0 grade point average | Class Valedictorian | Crestview Educational Foundation Walker Rey Ramsay Academic Scholarship Award Winner | Savannah Crestview Lion’s Club Academic Scholarship Award Winner | Crestview National Honor Society STEM Scholarship Award Winner | Three-time Academic All-Ohioan in Track and Field | Four-time first team Academic All-Firelands Conference.
Athletics: Earned nine varsity letters – four in track, three in football and two in wrestling | Outstanding Senior Athlete Award Winner (eight-plus varsity letters) | National Federation of High School Award of Excellence recipient | Four-time All-Ohioan in track in pole vault | Two-time indoor track All-Ohioan | Two-time football All-Ohioan as a quarterback | Two-time district wrestling qualifier | Football team captain | Track and Field Athlete of the Year | Track and Field Most Valuable Athlete.
Activities: National Honor Society | Richland County 4-H Camp Counselor | Member of the Farm Gang 4-H Club | Ashland YMCA Lifeguard | Buckeye Pole Vault Academy Team Member.
Principal’s Comment: “Liam is a proven leader in the classroom and on the playing field. Liam during his time at Crestview remained dedicated to maintaining exceptional grades while being able to also compete at the highest level in his sport. He has taken on many leadership roles within the school setting and sets a great example for our underclassmen. Liam’s kind, compassionate and understanding heart make him a great ambassador for our district. In the realm of athletics his work ethic is second to none. Everything Liam has accomplished has been through hard work and countless hours of sacrifice. One of the more impressive qualities Liam possesses is that he has been able to forge his own path while following in the very big footsteps of his older siblings. Crestview is definitely proud to call Liam one of ours.” – Shawn Skelly.
Karter Boggs
School: Bucyrus High School
Parents: Kevin and Shelly Boggs
Academics: 3.9 grade point average | Graduating with high honors as Top 5 in class | 2024 and 2025 Academic All-Ohio in cross country | 2025 and 2026 Academic All-Ohio in Track.
Athletics: Cross country: Four-year letterman | Two-time All-Ohioan | Northern 10 Conference individual champion | N10 Cross Country Runner of the Year | Three-time first team All-N10 | Two-time Crawford County Champion | School record holder for 5K and 2-mile | Two-time Nike Cross Country Regional 5K qualifer. Track: Four-year letterman | 2-time Mehock Relays 1,600-meter run champion | Two-time 4×800-meter relay Crawford County champions | Four-time 1,600-meter run Crawford County Champion | Four-time 3,200-meter run Crawford County Champion | Three-time 1,600-meter run N10 Champion | Two-time 3,200-meter N10 Champion | Four-time regional qualifier in 1,600 and 3,200-meter run | All-Ohioan in 3,200-meter run in 2026 | School record holder in 1,600 and 3,200 | Two-time Adidas National Qualifier in 1,600 | Two-time Nike Night of Stars qualifier in 1,600.
Brayden DeVito
School: Shelby High School
Parents: Doug and Kirsten DeVito
Academics: 4.0 unweighted grade point average | 4.2 weighted grade point average | Academic Letter | Shelby High School Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.
Athletics: Football: Four-year letterman | Three-time first team All-Ohio | Three-time Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year | Three-time first team All-MOAC | Two-time MOAC Player of the Year | Ohio Division IV Player of the Year | 2025 Ohio Mr. Football Runner-up. Basketball: Four-year letterman | Two-time Northwest District Player of the Year | Two-time first team All-Ohio | Two-time first team All-MOAC | 1,000-career point club. Track: Two-time All-Ohioan | Member of 4×100-meter relay state championship.
Principal’s Comment: “Obviously, Brayden is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. He has a desire to learn and continue to improve. We are all excited to see what he does at the next level.” – John Gies.
DaJahn (DJ) Corbin
School: Mansfield Senior High School
Parents: Alfred Corbin
Academics: 3.387 grade point average | Ranked 34th in class | Honors, AP and college courses | All As honor in first quarter and A and B honors in second, third and fourth quarter in 2026.
Athletics: Football: First team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference | Third team All-Ohio | Committed to Ohio Dominican. Basketball: Helped team to district championship and regional runner-up finish.
Activities: OCC Leadership
Principal’s Comment: “I think very highly of DJ as a young man because he represents the very best of what we hope our students become. He is respectful, dependable, and leads by example both inside and outside of the classroom. DJ has earned the admiration of his teachers, coaches, and peers through his humility, strong work ethic, and positive attitude. He consistently demonstrates pride in his school and serves as a role model for younger students by balancing academic excellence, athletic success, and leadership with integrity and maturity. Athletically, DJ has distinguished himself as a leader and competitor in both football and basketball. In football, he earned First Team OCC and Third Team All-Ohio honors while contributing 665 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns offensively, along with 47 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble defensively. On the basketball court, he averaged 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game. Beyond his accomplishments in the classroom and in athletics, DJ has also demonstrated leadership through his involvement in OCC Leadership activities. His commitment, character, and work ethic make him highly deserving of recognition as a Mansfield News Journal Scholar Athlete Team Student.” – Kristopher Beasley.
Davis Hoeflich
School: Clear Fork
Parents: Mike and Angie Hoeflich
Academics: National Honor Society | Two-time academic letter recipient | 3.98 cumulative grade point average | 4.22 weighted grade point average | Ranked fourth in class | 1140 PSAT score | 22 ACT score.
Athletics: Football: Three-year letterman | Two-time All-MOAC honors | Second team All-Northwest District in 2025. Basketball: One-year letterman. Track and Field: Three-year letterman | Two-time All-Ohio in high jump | State runner-up as a freshman | Team MVP for most points | All-MOAC first-team honors.
Activities: National Honor Society | Works part time as a landscaper.
Principal’s Comment: “Davis is a king student who is also a three-sport athlete carrying a 3.98 GPA. He is a member of NHS and takes both CCP and advanced courses. HE has qualified for state in track and field three times and was recognized for his abilities on the football field by the Northwest District and MOAC.” – Jennifer Klaus.
Hayden McFadden
School: Hillsdale High School
Parents: Mark and Paige McFadden
Academics: 3.56 grade point average | Ranked 20th in class.
Athletics: Made it to the state tournament in three sports during his senior year | Football: Four-year letterman | 2024 team MVP | 2025 Most Outstanding Offensive Back | Three-year All-Wayne County Athletic League | Division VII Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year | Two-time first team All-NEI District | 2024 first team All-Ohio wide receiver | 2025 second team All-Ohio WR | Records for most receiving yards in a game (250), in a season (1,396) and longest touchdown catch (99 yards). Basketball: Three-year letterman | 2025 High Flyer Award | 2026 Mr. March | All-WCAL and NEI District honors | Track: Three-year letterman | Two-time All-WCAL in long jump and 200-meter dash | Owns school record for 200-meter dash (22.25).
Activities: Attends Southview Grace Brethren Church | Works for McFadden Tree Service, Brew’d and Mifflin Dairy Bar.
Principal’s Comment: “Hayden McFadden is a three-sport athlete who also excels in the classroom with a GPA of 3.56. He is a record holder in the 200-meter dash and contributed to our state playoff run in football with miraculous catches as a receiver. He is known as the life of the party and enjoys taking the pressure off his fellow teammates. He has a giving heart and regularly brings donuts from work in to share with everyone “just cuz”. Hayden will be missed. – Tim Keib.
Liam Stone
School: Madison Comprehensive High School
Parents: Josh and Nichole Stone
Academics: 3.0 grade point average | 31 score on ACT | Vice President of National Honor Society
Athletics: Golf: Four-year letterman | Team Captain | Second place in Division I sectional tournament. Baseball: Three-time All-Ohio Cardinal Conference | Four-year letterman | Team captain.
Activities: Vice president of Executive Committee.
Principal’s Comment: “Liam is a wonderful role model for his teammates and classmates. He is extremely hard-working and treats others with kindness and respect. I am extremely proud of the man he has become.” – Sean Conway.
Markale Martin
School: Lexington High School
Parents: Amber Cooley
Academics: 4.314 weighted grade point average | 3.805 non-weighted GPA | Lexington High School Purple Blanket Recipient.
Athletics: Football: Two-time team captain | Four-year letterman | Two-time All-Ohio Cardinal Conference | Second team All-Northwest District | First team All-Mansfield News Journal. Basketball: One-year letterman. Baseball: Four-year letterman | Second team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference | Honorable Mention All-District 9.
Activities: National Honor Society | Leadership Counsil.
Principal’s Comment: “When I think of Markale, perseverance is the term that quickly comes to my mind. While he is an outstanding student in the classroom, and an extremely gifted athlete, he constantly had to overcome a number of athletic injuries throughout his four year career. However, never once did he make an excuse nor miss a practice. When you talk to his coaches, the first thing they will tell you is he is willing to do whatever the team needs first! And when he was rehabbing an injury, he was always at practice helping the underclassmen, filling water bottles, filming practice, or asking what else needed to be done to help the team. There are few student athletes that are as gifted as Markale, that would ever entertain doing the “dirty work.” With that said, he had an outstanding four year career here at Lexington, and his accolades speak to his athletic success and I wish him the best at the University of Findlay.” – Jamie Masi.
Zachary Church
School: Highland High School
Parents: Travis and Shawna Church
Academics: 3.7 grade point average | National Honor Society | Earned nine of 12 Ohio Graduation Seals | Honors Diploma Recipient | Senior Academic All-Ohio in baseball.
Athletics: Baseball: Four-year letterman | Four-time All-MOAC and All-District | 2025 MOAC Player of the Year | All-Ohioan | Prep Baseball Report ranked No. 4 catcher in Ohio for 2026 | Committed to Findlay | Senior Futures game participant. Football: Four-year letterman | Two-time All-MOAC and All-District | Basketball: One-year letterman.
Activities: Red Cross Blood Drive organizer | Recipient of Red Cross Scholarship | More than 100 hours of community service | School store volunteer.
Principal’s Comment: “Zach Church is an outstanding student-athlete who represents Highland High School with pride both in the classroom and on the athletic field. Zach is a respectful, hardworking, and dedicated young man who leads by example and consistently demonstrates strong character. His commitment to academics, athletics, and his future at the University of Findlay makes him very deserving of this recognition. We are proud of all he has accomplished and excited to see his continued success at the next level.” – Chad Carpenter.
Honorable Mentions
Kaylen Brooks, Mansfield Senior; Karter Goon, Crestview; Jesse Travathan, Hillsdale; Jaxin Stancombe, Madison; Quinton Albert, Shelby; Brett Cheney, Crestline; Colten Keller, Crestline; Ethan Beck, Clear Fork; Marcus Hoeflich, Clear Fork; Hayden Butcher, Bucyrus; Noah Pearce, Mansfield Christian; Josiah Schleusener, Mansfield Christian; Jarrett Burrer, Plymouth; Cole Eichorn, Lexington; Jace Young, Ontario; Ray Lewis, Lucas.
jfurr@usatodayco.com
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Meet the 2025-26 Mansfield News Journal Scholar-Athlete Team: Top 10 Males
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
