The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame recently announced the nominees for this year’s Lehigh Valley Football Scholar athletes.
One senior player from each of the 34 high schools, along with players from six local colleges, will represent their teams at the event, which is scheduled for March 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center at the intersection of Route 22 and 512.
Student athletes from the area honored at the event include Paul Rutledge, Jim Thorpe; Luke Blauch, Lehighton; Ethan Karpowich, North Lehigh; Samuel John Mauro, Northwest; Kendall Robinson, Palmerton; and Oluwafeola Olaniyan, Pleasant Valley.
Other high school student-athletes include: Jharon Johnson, Allen; Griffin Patridge, Allentown Central Catholic; Ashton Kluska, Bangor; Mark Mulhern, Catholic from Bethlehem; Javier Sobrado, Catasauqua; Daniel Antar, Dieruff; Jordan Thompson, East Stroudsburg North; Jacob Patrick, East Stroudsburg South; Austin Martellucci, Easton; Dylan Darville, Emmaus; Mayson Terrell, Executive Education Academy; Owen Johnson, Freedom; Jordan Bartholomew, Freedom; Devin Tavares, Nazareth; Carson Czarnecki, Northampton; Mason Ludlow, Notre Dame; Kai Stiansen, palisades; Jack T. Harrison, Parkland; Kristoffer Kessler, Pen Argyl; Dylan York, Phillipsburg; Owen Shaffer, Pocono Mountain East; Joseph Ewing, Pocono Mountain West; Jacob Ashton Gibbons, Salisbury: Tyler Pfizenmayer, Saucon Valley; Nicholas Ventresca, South Lehigh; Aiden Herman, Stroudsburg; Joseph Hahn, Whitehall; and Kenneth Steckel, Wilson.
College athletes are: Anthony Capitini, East Stroudsburg; Jerome Kapp, Kutztown; Dylan Crossen, Lafayette; Jalen Burbage, Lehigh; Javier Espinal-Katz, Moravia; Kevin Olifiers, Muehlenberg.
Below are the biographies of the Division Scholar athletes:
Paul Rutledge, Jim Thorpe
As an offensive and defensive tackle, Rutledge is in the top 6% of its class. He is an Honor Roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a member of several school-sponsored clubs, including serving as President of the Future Business Leaders of America. He volunteers as a booster club junior football coach.
Luke Blauch, Lehighton
As a tight end and defensive end, Blauch ranks in the top 12% of his class. He is an honor roll student and served as a team captain. He is a member of several school-sponsored clubs, serves as club officer, school newspaper editor, and yearbook editor. He is the school media director and does all posts to @lehightontribe on Instagram.
Ethan Karpowich,
North Lehigh
As a fullback, tight end, and linebacker, Karpowich is in the top 6% in his class. He is an honor roll student and served as team captain while a four-year starter at Linebacker. He is a class officer and a member of various clubs or activities sponsored by the school. He plans to attend a four-year university to study engineering.
Samuel JOHN Mauro, Northwest
As a defensive end and tight end, Mauro is in the top 3% in his class. He is an honors student, member of the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society. He was a team captain and received All-League Honorable Mention Defensive Honors. He is the vice president of the student council, participates in college baseball, the Interact Club, and is a member of the Science Olympiad team. He received an AP Scholar Award and is involved in the National Rural & Small Town Recognition Program.
kendall robinson,
Palmerton
As a wide receiver and cornerback, Robinson is in the top 24% in his class. He is an honor roll student and serves as the secretary of the Gridiron Club. He volunteers at church food drives, Booster Club Football Camp, youth basketball camp, Holiday Homecoming, and serves as a volunteer booth.
Oluwafeola Olaniyan, pleasant valley
As a full-back and full-back, Olaniyan ranks in the top 3% of his class. He is an honors student, member of the National Honor Society and a state qualifier on the Supply Chain Management test for FBLA. He earned All-Conference First Team offensive and defensive honors while serving as the team captain. He is the vice president of Future Business Leaders of America, treasurer of the Key Club and host of the Red Cross blood drive. He has volunteered over 500 hours.
Luke Blauch, Lehighton
Ethan Karpowich, N. Lehigh
Fela Olaniyan, pleasant Vy.
Paul Rutledge, Jim Thorpe
Sam Mauro, Northwest
Kendall Robinson, Palmerton
