Friday, February 18, 2000
St. X's Sollmann wins football award
St. X senior takes 'That's My Boy' honor
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Winning awards in sports, academics and community service is nothing new for Steve Sollmann, an 18-year-old senior at St.Xavier High School.
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Division I Football Player of the Year claimed yet another honor Thursday night at the annual meeting of the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the National Football Federation and College Hall of Fame.
Competing against football players from area schools, Sollmann won the “That's My Boy” award for excellence not only in football, but also in the classroom and community.
Sollmann's older brother, Scott, now a baseball player in the Toronto organization, also won the award in 1993, sharing it with Norwood's Marc Edwards, now a fullback for the Cleveland Browns.
“This is amazing to me,” Sollmann said. “I was just happy to be here with all these outstanding athletes. My brother won the award, and this is very special to me.”
To recognize football players who are standouts on and off the field, the local chapter of the National Football Federation established the “That's My Boy” award in 1962. After the end of football season, leagues accept one nomination for the award from each high school, and the athletes with the highest rankings compete against the best from the other leagues.
Each category is weighted, with football at 50 percent, academics 30 percent and extracurricular activities 20 percent.
“The national organization thinks we put too much emphasis on football,” said Ron Woyan, a member of the Cin cinnati Chapter board of directors. Next season, the breakdown will be 40 percent both on football and academics and 20 percent on outside activities.
Sollmann had high scores in each category.
Besides earning first-team all-state honors, Sollmann, a three-year starter for the Bombers, also was named offensive MVP in the Greater Catholic League South.
Academically, Sollmann is in the top 10 percent of the 2000 graduating class and belongs to the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
The community also has benefitted from Sollmann's effort. He headed St.X's canned food drive, served as a Big Brother/Big Buddy and was a leader of St.Xavier's Bomber Pilot program.
During three years as a starter for the St.Xavier football team, Sollmann rewrote the offensive record books, establishing the following records:
• Single-season rushing: 1,592 yards.
• Single-game rushing: 316 yards.
• Career rushing: 3,947 yards.
• Career rushing touchdowns: 51.
• Career all-purpose yards: 5,860.
• Career touchdowns: 60.
• Career scoring: 362 points.
He also tied a single-game record with six touchdowns.
“I've run out of compliments for Steve,” St.Xavier football coach Steve Rasso said. “Steve's desire to win is unbelievable. He had tremendous focus that carried over to other players. You can also see it in basketball and baseball.”
Sollmann is the fifth St.X athlete to win the award. Besides his brother, others earning the honor are Tom Rhoads (1964), John Tuke ('74) and Mike Healy ('88).
Next year, Sollmann will attend Notre Dame, where he has a baseball scholarship.
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