New Richmond senior Austin Warden is a finalist for the 44th National Football Foundation’s “That’s My Boy” Award banquet, which is based upon the accumulation of points in three areas: football achievement, academic achievement, and extracurricular and community activities.
Zach Gelter, who would have been the starting center on the 2010 team, will receive the Tom Potter Memorial Award of Courage for overcoming a near-fatal automobile accident last year.
“To have two of our players recognized by the National Football Foundation is awesome,” said Lions head coach Dan Scholz. “To be a part of a Cincinnati wide event is special for our program, for New Richmond, and even more so for Austin and Zach. I am very happy they are being recognized.”
The That’s My Boy award will be announced Thursday at the Scholar-Athlete Dinner, which will be in the Presidential Ballroom at the Westin Cincinnati.
“It’s a great honor just to be nominated and to become a finalist puts you in an elite group,” said Scholz.
Other finalists for Ohio’s award are: David Brausch, Batavia ; Will Duncan, Cincinnati Country Day; Sam Fernandez, Ross; Jarrett Grace, Colerain; Ryan Haynes, McNicholas; Michael Millikin, Turpin; Aaron Patton, Winton Woods; Jonathan Tighe, Wyoming; and Joe Tull, Moeller.
“Austin Warden is everything you want in a player, a student, and a friend to your kids,” said Scholz. “He is a great leader by example and his hard work and effort helped our team reach the playoffs, and a league championship in his playing time on the varsity.”
Warden, a two-time first-team All-SBAAC football player, plans to attend Miami University and major in dietetics. A four-year varsity pitcher-outfield on New Richmond’s baseball team, Warden hopes to play baseball at Miami either as a scholarship player or walk-on.
“I’m hoping to receive a partial scholarship for baseball but if I don’t I plan to try walking on,” said Warden, whose parents Debi and Chuck Warden are both Miami University graduates. Warden has received a $2500 academic scholarship from Miami.
Gelter was prohibited from playing any contact sport for five years after his automobile accident last spring. He still made every practice during the 2010 season, even two-a-days and worked as a team manager. Coach Scholz dressed him for senior night and he got in as the safety during a victory formation.
“That was a great moment for me that night,” said Gelter. “Not being able to play was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.”
Gelter plans to attend Northern Kentucky University and major in physical education.
“I want to be a high school football coach,” said Gelter.
“Zach Gelter receiving the Courage Award is well deserved,” said Scholz. “His overcoming the tragedy of his accident, and his work ethic had a huge impact on our team and spurred us on to win the League Championship. I am proud of Zach and how he lived out his commitment to our team, and was an example for all of the players in the football program.”
