Mason Herndon - Dispatch Athlete of the Week

After tallying 34 saves in a 5-2 win over Cleveland St Ignatius to claim the OHSAA Ice Hockey State Championship, junior Goalie Mason Herndon was selected as the Columbus Dispatch "Athlete of the Week."  

Herndon made several key stops during the state final to hold the Bears' competition scoreless through the first 44 minutes of a 45 minute game.  Head Coach Craig Hagkull has often touted Herndon's ability to keep the Golden Bears in tight games.

Following the game, Hagkull told the Dispatch, "I'd love to tell you that this surprises me (but) it doesn't because he's done it all season." Hagkull said, "He's the best goalie in high school hockey in Ohio by far, and if the doesn't stand on his head in the first period, we're not having this conversation today."

That wouldn't be Herndon's last victory of the week though; in a neck and neck poll, his selection as Athlete of the Week came down to the final minutes against Kamryn Dixon of the Granville bowling team.  With the backing of an entire hockey community, Herndon prevailed with 48% of the vote, claiming 8254 well-deserved pats on the back from a grateful UA community!