Lake Catholic headlines Academic All-Ohio

Perry, Chagrin Falls, Gilmour, US also honored for OHSFCA

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association unveiled its Academic All-Ohio teams, and for what is believed to be the first time in school history, Lake Catholic was honored on the list as a team.

The Lake Catholic football team went out on a high note this past fall, finishing with a 7-3 record.

The Cougars also had a winning season in the classroom.

Lake Catholic is one of five area teams honored as Academic All-Ohio football teams by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.

Lake athletic director Sam Colacarro said he believes it is the first time the football program earned Academic All-Ohio honors as a team.

Additionally, four individual players — Luka Zurak, Carson McNellie, Nate Rieple and Tom Marjak — were named Academic All-Ohioans as individuals.

“The team recognition is huge,” said former coach Scott O’Donnell, who stepped down after the season. “To my knowledge, it’s the first time it’s happened here in football. It’s pretty exciting.”

Also named as Academic All-Ohio teams are Perry, Chagrin Falls, Gilmour and University.

Besides the quartet from Lake Catholic, other area individuals named Academic All-Ohio are Perry’s Spencer Kane and Jason Beyer and University’s Jack Voudouris and Jake Kapp.

Teams applying for Academic All-Ohio honors submit the top 22 gradepoint averages for players who lettered on the varsity team.

“Ultimately, you want to win every single game you play,” O’Donnell said.

“But academics is the most important thing. These guys get it. This senior class is full of leaders. They do the right thing and show the right way to do things for the rest of the team.”