The Greatest Golfer Scholarship program is hosted by the Inspira Health Group, and we are pleased to announce 4 graduates from the Class of 2025 who are recipients of our second annual scholarships.
Miya Cohol, Canfield High School and Michael Garwacki, South Range High School, are the recipients of the George Bellino Greatest Scholarship.
Austin Mariani, Badger High School, is the recipient of the Ellen and Jim Tressel Greatest Scholarship.
Ian Tricker, Badger High School, is the recipient of the Chris and Ed Muransky Scholarship.
WATCH RECIPIENT VIDEOS HERE
Each player has a long history in Greatest Golfer participation. Each person has shown themselves to be dynamic individuals and community participants, as well as top competitors.
Cohol is now enrolled at the University of Cincinnati where she will study athletic training.
Garwacki is at Miami University studying business analytics.
Tricker is at Hocking College where he will study heavy equipment management and play golf.
Mariani is enrolled at Mount Union for engineering and playing on the golf team.
Said Michael Garwacki about golf and life:
“Golf has been key for lessons in life — embrace challenges and hard times. Find ways to solve problems and get past them. That will help me in all my life. Hard times will happen. Working around them is important.”
Our inaugural Year 1 $1,000 scholarship honorees were Taylor Morrone and Luke Leskovac, Canfield High School; Hudson Rice, Badger High School; Sophia Rivera, Boardman High School; and Chase Forsyth, Ursuline High School. They each will receive $250 for year 2 of their schooling.
Funds for the scholarship are raised via the Inspira Health Greatest Day of Golf fundraiser, special Greatest events, the Bellino family and donations from Greatest Golfer participants.
More about our recipients
Miya Cohol
Golf has always been an essential part of my life.
For thirteen years, I played a sport that constantly demanded self-control; in golf, it’s always you versus yourself. Just as life has taught me valuable lessons that apply on the golf course, the game itself has offered me insights that I carry with me every day.
If you’ve ever watched me play, you’d notice my peculiar attraction to trees. No matter where a tree is located, I somehow manage to end up in the worst possible spot, always expecting a different outcome each time I played.
My golf coach, Dean Conley, taught me that trying to hit through a tree is impossible, and that sometimes the best move is to “take your medicine” — punch out and take an extra stroke if it puts you in a better position. Coach Conley may not have realized it, but I began to apply the lesson to my life outside of golf as well. I realized that it’s human nature to fixate on a single problem, but sometimes, all you need is to “take your medicine” — to pause, breathe, and gather your thoughts.
Another lesson golf has taught me is that the round isn’t over until the clubs are back in the car. I teed off in the final round of the Greatest Championships at Squaw Creek. The first few holes were rough, and I was worried my dad wouldn’t make it to watch me play. He arrived by the seventh hole. But by then, I felt that my round had taken a turn for the worse. With nothing left to lose, I decided to simply enjoy the rest of the round. Suddenly, everything clicked.
On Hole 17, I drove the ball far enough to reach the green in two shots. On the 18th, I made a hole-in-one, with my biggest supporter there to share the moment.
This experience taught me that a bad start doesn’t have to mean a bad day. I carry this lesson with me in life.
Ian Tricker
“In golf, as in life, it is the follow through that makes the difference.”
This quote, often attributed to Dr. Seuss, resonates deeply with me. Completing commitments with a strong finish has always been my goal, not just in high school but in life.
However, I believe a strong finish is truly rewarding only when it positively impacts someone else’s life.
As a graduate of Badger High School, I am proud to have earned thirteen varsity letters, broken five school athletic records, and participated in two state golf tournaments as well as one Track & Field state championship.
Alongside my athletic dedication and a part-time job at a tire shop, I maintained a 3.7 GPA and was an active member of the National Honor Society for two years.
Beyond sports, serving as a Junior Volunteer Firefighter with the Kinsman Volunteer Fire Department for the past two years has been incredibly rewarding. This experience taught me much more than firefighting. It instilled compassion, reliability, and dedication. I have witnessed the department’s support for our community and school.
Whether participating in sports, volunteering, or pursuing my career, I strive to perform at my best both mentally and physically. This commitment to follow through motivates me as I begin the next phase of my life at Hocking College, playing golf and studying Heavy Equipment Management. I pledge to finish strong as I move forward.
Austin Mariani
I’ve always been a competitive person. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve taken sports seriously not just because I wanted to win, but because I’ve always seen athletics as a way to push myself, to grow, and to stand out.
What drew me to golf wasn’t just the game itself, it was the challenge. Golf isn’t easy. It doesn’t hand out instant success or reward talent without discipline. It’s a mental grind, and it demands more from you than just physical skill.
As I got older, golf gave me more than just competition. It gave me leadership.
Watching teammates grow with my help has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
Being part of a team brought out a different side of me. I started mentoring younger players, helping them handle nerves, guiding them through course strategy, and reminding them that a single bad swing doesn’t define their round, or their game. I’ve led by example, staying composed under pressure, showing up early, staying late, and treating every round like an opportunity to improve.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that decision I made at such a young age to pick up the game of golf. I didn’t know at the time what golf would become for me. I didn’t know how much it would teach me, test me, and shape me. But now, as I reflect on my journey, I can say with confidence: golf has made me who I am, and hopefully it will continue to shape who I will become.