CINCINNATI — Sycamore standout swimmer Jake Foster and Indian Hill soccer and track standout Anna Podojil are the winners of the 33rd annual LaRosa’s high school MVP of the Year awards.
The male and female winners were announced Sunday afternoon at the Buddy LaRosa’s Sports Hall of Fame banquet.
Inaugurated with the class of 1987, the LaRosa's male and female MVP of the Year awards are the oldest ongoing awards given annually in Greater Cincinnati to honor outstanding high school athletic achievement.
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Foster, a University of Texas signee, was named the National High School Coaches Association 2019 Athlete of the Year in men’s swimming. He is the first Sycamore athlete to be named a LaRosa’s MVP.
Foster set three state records in notching victories in the 200-yard medley relay (1:28.48), the 200-yard individual medley (1:43.99) and the 100-yard breaststroke (53.76) at the state meet in Canton in March. His times in the 200 IM and his preliminary time in the 100 breaststroke (53.53) set state, state tournament and pool records.
Foster was also a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that captured the state title in 2:59.97.
During one weekend meet this past season, Foster set five Sycamore school records and won all eight events in which he participated.
Foster and his younger brother, Carson, combined for six Division I state titles and wound up sharing the Ohio co-swimmer of the year award at the state meet.
Podojil, who has signed to play soccer at the University of Arkansas, graduated with six state championships, including leading Indian Hill to the school’s first state team title with a 2-0 victory over Lake Catholic in the 2017 Division II state championship game. The victory capped off a 22-0-1 record – the first undefeated soccer season in school history.
Indian Hill repeated the feat this past fall with a 1-0 victory over Bay Village Bay, posting an 18-2-3 record.
Earlier this month, she played a key role in helping Indian Hill capture the Division II state girls’ track and field title.
Podojil qualified for four events as a sophomore and senior at the state track meet. She captured the state title in the 200-meter run (24.44) as a sophomore. This year, she won the 400-meter run (1.53.67), then was part of the record-setting 1,600-meter relay team, which set the Division II and D-II state meet record in 3:49.30.
She was named first team All-America by Top Drawer Soccer.com and was second team All-USA Today. She twice has been named Ohio’s Ms. Soccer by the Ohio Soccer Coaches Association.
Podojil also was named the Gatorade Ohio player of the year and was selected as a Division II player of the year twice and a three-time all-state selection.
She holds Indian Hill’s single-season scoring record (38 goals in 2017) and career scoring record (117). She ranks No. 2 all-time in career assists (51).
The hall of fame also inducted several additions Sunday including:
- 1977 Mother of Mercy volleyball and 1962 Wyoming High School football teams
- Chrissy Donovan, St. Ursula Academy, Class of 1999
- Stephanie Edgar, Dayton High School, Class of 1990
- Audra Falk, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Class of 2001
- Jefferson Kelley, Colerain High School, Class of 1996
- Kyle Rudolph,Elder High School, Class of 2008
- Coach Dave Schuh, Bishop Brossart High School, 1980-Present
