POWELL, Ohio — Making it to states is something most high school athletes dream of.

What You Need To Know

  • Olentangy Liberty's football team is headed to states 

  • Their running back played on both the hockey and lacrosse team that won states 

  • There's several multi-sport athletes on this team 

But a senior running back is trying to do something this weekend that’s almost unheard of.

Jake Struck knows how hard it is to win a high school state championship.

“It’s not easy winning one. I’ve been grateful to win two and we have the chance to win a third one,” said Struck, a senior at Olentangy Liberty High School.

That third one would be this weekend, as Olentangy Liberty seeks its first football state title.

“This means a lot to us so we’re doing as much as we can and practicing hard, watching film and we’ll be prepared,” Struck said.

But as Struck mentioned, winning isn’t new to him.

Last Spring, he led the Patriots lacrosse team to a state championship by scoring five goals in the decisive game.

A year earlier he had three assists as Liberty became the first school from Central Ohio to win a hockey state title.

“One in all three sports that I play which is pretty crazy,” Struck said.

And Struck said it isn’t easy being a three-sport athlete, but for him, it’s worth it. 

“Every sport we play here is competitive, and we work as hard as we can to try and win a state in every single sport,” Struck said.

“Big moments, he doesn’t shy away from, and yeah he can make a difference, he’s an incredible athlete,” said Jason Godwin, lacrosse coach at Olentangy Liberty High School.

He said what stands out about last year’s Ohio Lacrosse Player of the year and High School All-American is his fierce competitiveness, something that transcends across all sports.

“I think the football team is lucky to have him, just as the hockey team and so are we. I’m glad we have him for one more year,” Godwin said.

While Struck is the only player on the football team who also won titles in both lacrosse and hockey, there are plenty of other players trying to win a second state title.

Ten players on this year’s football roster were a part of the lacrosse team, while quarterback Andrew Leonard helped the hockey team win in 2023.

“It’s a special group of guys, special team doing this, it feels really good to get here, this is what we’ve been wishing for all year we just gotta finish,” said Andrew Leonard, a senior at Olentangy Liberty High School.

As Leonard and Struck head off the practice field, they’re ready to win another state title for the Patriots.

The Division I championship will be played at 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and can be seen on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App.