The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
6 SWC players named to academic team
Three Avon players and a player each from Midview and Olmsted Falls are named to the Academic All-Ohio team. Avon, Midview and Vermilion also received team honors.
The Southwestern Conference has proven year after year to have some of the best teams in Ohio among its ranks.
It also happens to have some of the most intelligent players in the state.
The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association recently released the 2017 Academic All-Ohio football team, and six area individuals — all players on SWC teams — were ranked among the 116 players listed.
The players honored were: Avon’s Chris Mullins, Max Torbert, Alex Waters and Kyle Kudla, Midview’s Nick Crum and Olmsted Falls’ Jake Dahlinger.
In order to be eligible for individual consideration, players needed to be seniors, have a minimum of a 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be on some sort of a first team — whether that be All-Conference, All-County or All-District.
“When we joined the conference (in 2015), we knew it was full of great schools and communities,” Midview coach D.J. Shaw said. “Maybe what wasn’t as well known was the pride that the conference takes in academics. When you have multiple players from the conference make Academic All-Ohio, I think it shows just how much of a priority academics are in the SWC.”
Additionally, Avon and Midview, along with Vermilion, received Academic All-Ohio honors as a team.
For team consideration, coaches needed to submit the first quarter GPA of 22 varsity award letter-winners.
“To have SWC teams and individuals make it, it’s a cool thing,” Olmsted Falls coach Tom DeLuca said. “It’s no secret that I think the competition in the SWC is second to none. So are the academics. You have coaches like (Avon’s) Mike Elder and (Midview’s) D.J. Shaw who take pride in it. And so do the other coaches. They just didn’t get someone on the list this year. But, honestly, it would not be surprising to see any of the other SWC teams with players on the All-Ohio list.
Avon routinely lands multiple players on the list. With four players in 2017, Avon — along with Perry, Orange and Chillicothe — leads the state in individuals making the list.
“At Avon, we take great pride in all aspects of our student-athletes,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “All four of those young men are great role models. I’m proud of them and the fact that they are not only great athletes, but decided to their studies. They definitely deserve this honor.”
Additionally, having the team qualify is also gratifying for Elder.
“I’m proud that Avon often finds itself on the Academic All-Ohio list as a
team,” Elder said. “I think it’s a testament to the family that these kids come from that we can keep making that list. It’s honestly something that I hold great pride and value in.”
Shaw echoed Elder’s sentiments.
“This is the fourth year in a row that we have made it as a team,” Shaw said. “As a coach, teacher and administrator, I couldn’t be more proud. It means that the team understands that they are students first.”
As for Crum, Shaw said he is not surprised the senior made the list.
“Nick is just a great person,” Shaw said. “He has found a way to balance his time in order to succeed at
both. It’s not an easy thing to do, but he always managed to do it. He’s the type of player and person who understands that sacrifices need to be made to succeed in both, and he was willing to do that.
“He put in the time and effort and more than deserves this honor.”
For DeLuca, seeing Dahlinger on the list is just a justification for his player who has always been an allaround workhorse.
“Jake is special,” DeLuca said. “He’s one of those guys who excels and once he puts his mind to something, he’s going to get it. That’s why he’s an Eagle Scout. It’s why he’s a role model for our underclassmen. And now it’s
why he’s an Academic AllOhioan.”
More than anything else, DeLuca said having a player like Dahlinger shows others that you can be a successful athlete as well as a topnotch student.
“He doesn’t know it yet, but when we visit the middle school to talk with the kids, he’s going to be my prime example,” DeLuca said.
“He’s a player and person that I want those kids to view as a role model. He knows how to succeed, and if those kids can be like him, they’re going to be set for great things, whether it be on the field or in the classroom or, hopefully, both.”