As Denzel Ward stood atop the podium inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, freshly crowned a state champion in the 200-meter dash at the OHSAA Track and Field State Championships, the 2015 Ohio State football signee had a big smile on his face as he panned the crowd. It finally hit him he’d be spending his next four years on this particular campus.
It wasn’t in the sport he’d be playing in college, but winning a state championship at the place he’ll call home over the next four years held special meaning.
“It just means a lot,” Ward said following his win.