Poyle, Burris Earn Avon Leadership Award

By Maddie Luca

Two Avon High School athletes received the Avon Leadership Summit Award for outstanding achievement in their sport and exceptional character on and off the field recently. 

Fall athletes Jack Poyle and Jeremiah Burris were honored for their contributions on Oct. 1 to their respective teams and were each presented with a certificate and VFW Challenge Coin at the Avon VFW. 

Coach Chris Dore presented the award to Poyle, a senior goalkeeper for the varsity soccer team, describing him as an honest, dependable young man who “has been himself the entire season.”

Poyle, who has served as a field player for the last three years, has taken on the challenge of transitioning to goalkeeper, something Dore sees as a testament to his “lead by example” attitude and his dedication to his team. Poyle has grown into his new role tremendously, leading the soccer team in an impressive winning streak. 

Burris, a senior and key player for the AHS varsity football team, received his award from Coach Mike Elder who described Burris as not only an “unquestionably good” defensive player and likely all-Ohio candidate, but a “funny, soft-spoken individual with strong values.” Burris is considered a natural leader for his teammates and someone Elder “never has to worry about” when it comes to decision-making.

After a church missionary trip to the earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti, Jeremiah was inspired to start the Love Haiti fund, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing food and supplies to hard-to-reach areas of the country. At a recent football game rally, more than $5,000 dollars were raised for the fund, and Burris continues to give his time and efforts to the cause. For now, Burris’s goal is to lead his team to another conference win, but Elder is assured that an even greater future awaits for the young man.

Avon Leadership Summit Awards are held at the Avon VFW post 7035 every Monday at 8:30 p.m.to acknowledge fall sport athletes. This event is open to the public.