The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced their All-Ohio teams as selected by the Associated Press last week with New Richmond’s Danny Scholz being honored as a Division III Special Mention.
“(Danny) has meant a ton to our program,” former New Richmond head football coach Dan Scholz said. “Through his work ethic and how much he was trying to bring a championship mentality every day, he was very instrumental in helping to push our team.”
Danny, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker and full back, is no stranger to award recognition. Scholz was named to the First-Team All-SBC the last two years as well as a Cincinnati Enquirer Division II-VI First Team All-City selection in 2011.
“I’ve worked so hard throughout the offseason. It’s been my goal to just play high school football, so to be honored means a lot,” Danny Scholz said.
During his senior season, Danny had 112 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in nine games. On the offensive side of the ball, he ran for 423 yards and nine touchdowns.
Danny has been a key part to the recent success at New Richmond. Last season, the Lions went 8-2 and haven’t lost a league game in two years. Over those two years, the Lions have won the league both times and made a playoff appearance.
“When he was younger, he followed the older players on the team, but he was always one of the hardest working in the weight room and studying film,” Dan Scholz said. “He’s done a great deal for our team as evidenced by being named a captain, which is voted on by his teammates. He always brought a passion and always tried to help push the other guys.”
Coach Scholz, Danny’s father, has had the opportunity to coach three of his sons during his stint as the New Richmond football coach, a privilege he believes strengthens his relationship with his boys.
“It’s been very rewarding and fun to bond and experience something like that (with my sons),” Dan Scholz said. “Being on the same team, having a common goal and something you’re both working towards is something I enjoyed.”
Scholz signed a letter of intent to attend Malone University in Canton, OH on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Scholz had narrowed his choices down to Taylor University, Ashland University and Malone University before deciding on Malone late last week.
“It came down to that Malone needed me more than Ashland did,” Danny said. “Ashland has a really good program and they have it rolling over there. I thought that Malone needed me, so that’s why I decided to go there.”
