AVON, Ohio — Avon High School will take on Anderson Thursday night to kick off the Ohio high school football state championship weekend. It’s the Avon Eagles' first time competing in the state championship game since 2011. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Avon Eagles football team is consistently ranked in the top 8 in academic excellence, a list put out by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association 

  • Coaches, teachers and players prioritize  education 

  • Many players on the team are on the school's Honor Roll

The Eagles also perform in the classroom as well. The last 10 years, they’ve been ranked in the top eight on the academic excellence list put out by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. 

James Tatman, a senior on the Eagles, is also on the Honor Roll. 

“In high school, we’re all student athletes, so the student part comes first,” Tatman said.

Tatman explained how important academics are to him.

“In 20 years, yeah, I played football, but it’s not going to be a career for me. Learning stuff and having good grades from school is going to be really important for a good job in the future,” Tatman said. 

Tatman’s teammates, Addison Hanna and Jack Hricovec, join Tatman’s sentiment in prioritizing their education. Both credit their teachers and coaches for the help that they give the football team on and off the football field.

“Once that season’s over, you kind of lose a sense of self that you once had. You made everything about your life about this for four, maybe even eight, 10 years and it’s tough losing that sense of self. It’s the thing you’ve worked for your whole life. If you’re not playing at the college, it doesn’t play a massive role in your life anymore, but it’s really nice having teachers and coaches that push you and not just football,” Hanna said.

“They want what’s best for us. Rather, it’s on the football field or in the classroom or even real life too,” Hricovec said.

Avon High School principal, Kristina Buller, said one of the football team’s secret weapons is their academics.

“They’re going to tell you as coaches that academics always come first, character is second and then football, athleticism is third. So that’s sort of bred into these young men,” Buller said. 

Eagles head coach, Mike Elder, expressed how happy he is about the team’s performance.

“We’re excited that we have the chance to play for a state championship this year,” Elder said.

He explained that it’s never been their “why” though.

“As coaches and as a district, it’s always to develop successful young men,” Elder said.