Central Catholic Stands Out at National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award Ceremony
Central Catholic was once again well represented at the 61st-annual National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award Ceremony on March 20 at the Glass City Center. Seniors Braden Awls, Brian Bishop, Tyler Jackson, Cody Schuberg, and Braiden Vargas were each named NFF Scholar-Athletes, while Head Coach Greg Dempsey was honored for guiding the Fighting Irish to their 5th state championship in program history (1962, 2005, ‘12, ‘14, ‘22) in the fall.
Over the last 2 years, a total of 8 Central Catholic student-athletes have been recognized by the foundation.
The NFF award is for student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom, on the gridiron, and in the community.
Central Catholic is coming off a historic 2022 campaign. The Scarlet & Gray posted a 15-1 overall ledger and a perfect 7-0 mark in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference. They secured their 5th-consecutive TRAC championship and ended the year with a 32-game league winning streak in the conference’s final season.
The mission of the NFF is to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal, and the drive for academic excellence in America’s young people.
Braden Awls
1st-Team All-Ohio
1st-Team All-District
1st-Team All-TRAC
Academic All-TRAC (3.8 GPA)
Team Captain
Freshman Football Mentor
Brian Bishop
Honorable Mention All-Ohio
1st-Team All-District
1st-Team All-TRAC
Academic All-TRAC (4.0 GPA)
Member of National Honor Society
Tyler Jackson
2nd-Team All-District
2nd-Team All-TRAC
Academic All-TRAC (3.9 GPA)
Youth Football Camp Counselor
Cody Schuberg
1st-Team All-Ohio
District Defensive Player of the Year
1st-Team All-District
TRAC Defensive Player of the Year
1st-Team All-TRAC
Academic All-TRAC (4.0 GPA)
Team Captain
Member of National Honor Society
Member of French Club
Braiden Vargas
Honorable Mention All-Ohio
1st-Team All-District
1st-Team All-TRAC
Academic All-TRAC (3.3 GPA)
Team Captain
Sophomore Football Mentor
Kindness Campaign Member
Youth Football Camp Counselor
Past Central Catholic Student-Athlete NFF Awardees
2023 – Braden Awls, Brian Bishop, Tyler Jackson, Cody Schuberg, Braiden Vargas
2022 – Dylan Fisher, Josh Lee, Sam Lee
2021 – Giovanni DeSantis, Tae’Shaun Johnson, Chris Sennett
2020 – Semaj Cross, Carter Fouty, Kendal Marshall, Randy Williams
2018 – Jase Bowen, Nehemiah Cannon, Alfred Dailey, Vincent Klempner, Justin Schiets
2017 – Craig DeMarko, Dallas Fields
2015 – Javian Martin, Ian Meacham, Kea’Shaun Phillips
2014 – Colin Kaucher, Christian Ward
2013 – Deshone Kizer, Derich Weiland
2007 – Tyler Kleeberger
2006 – Chris Dominiak, Dane Sanzenbacher
2004 – Dan Amato, Nicholas Boyle
1994 – Chad McCarthy
1988 – Tyrone Fries
1987 – Peter Kowalski
1984 – Jeffrey Miller
1983 – John Keller
1981 – Scott Hoffman, Joe Palka
1977 – Mark Kennedy, Robert Mangas
1976 – Edward Jacob
1974 – Thomas Bialorucki
1972 – Timothy Garris
1968 – Michael Scannell
1965 – Kenneth Kielczewski
1964 – Dennis Zolciak
1962 - John Ginter, Gerald Molnar
