15 Northeast Ohio High School Defenders Up for Vote

The 15-player field

The report says the nominees are:

  • Patrick Annichine, Twinsburg: Captain; three goals, three assists, and three conceded by the Tigers.
  • Lake de Leon, Chagrin Falls: Back-line leader; four conceded and seven clean sheets.
  • Alex Bellenir, Avon Lake: Captain of an unbeaten team; one assist, six conceded.
  • Toni Opelami, Hawken: One goal, one assist; Hawken has conceded six.
  • Sebastian Maher, Rocky River: Defensive midfielder; seven goals, seven assists; Pirates conceded 10.
  • Ethan Gupta, GlenOak: Captain; seven goals, four assists; Golden Eagles conceded six.
  • Cole Veverka, Avon: Captain; four goals, one assist; Avon conceded eight.
  • Bryson Scarlett, Rootstown: Captain; three goals, eight assists; Rootstown conceded 14.
  • Rocco Bonacuse, Revere: Three assists; leads a defense that conceded 18.
  • Emmett Byrne, Strongsville: Captain; one goal, one assist; Mustangs conceded 10.
  • Jonah Czarnecki, Bay: Defensive leader; Bay conceded 10 and lost only once.
  • Alexander Hechko, Brecksville: Captain of a defense that conceded 10.
  • Johannes Hagenaars, Shaker Heights: Two goals, one assist; Shaker Heights conceded 14.
  • Aidan Relic, Padua: Defensive midfielder; two goals and five clean sheets.
  • Caleb Schumacher, Marlington: Helped produce 11 wins, one draw, one loss and seven conceded.

What voters are weighing

The strongest defensive cases are built on suppression: de Leon’s seven clean sheets, the Tigers’ three goals conceded and Relic’s five shutouts. The vote also rewards influence beyond the back line. Maher’s seven goals and seven assists lead the attacking profile, while Scarlett’s eight assists and Gupta’s seven goals strengthen their captaincy cases.

The report adds that Bonacuse’s 18 conceded came against one of the region’s most difficult schedules, giving context to Revere’s defensive record.

Voting reportedly remains open until midnight on October 8. The next storyline is whether the public chooses the purest defensive record, the most productive two-way player or the captain whose influence reaches the final third.