SPERLING NAMED OHIO MR. FOOTBALL

On Friday, Jan. 20, following an all-school Mass, the Hoban student body and community celebrated senior Lamar Sperling and the tremendous success he accomplished as a student-athlete

"My family deserves all the recognition for my success," Sperling said. "They have supported me my entire life and none of my success is possible without them. Thank you to all my coaches and teachers."

Sperling is only the second Hoban student to earn the title of Ohio Mr. Football, joining Tyrrell Sutton '05. He also made the 2022 MaxPreps High School Football All-America team, in addition to the several individual records he set during the 2022 football season.

Sperling's 3,867 rushing yards in 2022 are the second-highest single-season total in Ohio history, and his 58 rushing touchdowns are a state record for a single season. He led the Knights to their third consecutive state championship game appearance, during which he ran for an OHSAA Division II championship game record of 367 yards.

Most recently, it was announced that Sperling is nominated as the 2022-23 All-USA Today Offensive Football Player of the Year. He is the only offensive football player from the state of Ohio to receive this nomination as he joins a prestigious group of 24 other student-athletes from across the country. The winner will be revealed over the summer during an on-demand broadcast that will feature top athletes in 31 boys and girls sports awards categories.

"Lamar’s character connects well to Blessed Basil Moreau’s vision," Principal T.K. Griffith ’89 said. "Humble, disciplined, team-oriented, resilient and a man of action–not of words, Lamar accomplished so many individual records this year that it would be difficult to list them all. Perhaps the most impressive would be the 3,867 yards he picked up in this season alone, making him the second-highest, single-season rusher ever in Ohio history."

Next year, Sperling plans to attend University at Buffalo and continue his academic and athletic career for the Buffalo Bulls.