Tess Bucher and Colin Cernansky were named the Overall Girls Athlete of the Year and Overall Boys Athlete of the Year, respectively, at the Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards show. The event recognized 37 individuals for their outstanding achievements in sports, coaching, and team accomplishments in the local area. The show was made possible with the support of sponsors such as Meijer, Planet Fitness, SARTA, USA Today Sports, and Golfweek.
Bucher had a remarkable four-year career in tennis and was a dominant force in Northeast Ohio. She capped off her high school career by winning a Division I state championship last fall with a perfect 43-0 record for the 2023 season. With a career record of 151-9, she holds the most wins by any player in Stark County history. Throughout her season, she only lost 3 sets and secured league, sectional, and district titles for all four years. Bucher will continue her tennis career at the University of Kentucky after focusing exclusively on tennis following her success in softball earlier in her high school career.
On the other hand, Cernansky concluded his impressive four-year running career by leading Marlington to their third consecutive team state championship in cross country last fall. He also won two individual state titles in track earlier this year while dominating the 1,600 and 3,200 meters events. With a total of 10 state titles under his belt, Cernansky is among the most successful high school athletes in Stark County history. He will be competing at Ohio State University while continuing his running career.
The Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program which aims to celebrate and honor exceptional athletes across various sports and disciplines nationwide.
