Ryan Kehres elected 73rd Mr. Benedictine
By Jacob Shean, The Bennet
The students of Benedictine High School have elected Ryan Kehres the 73rd Mr. Benedictine. He was chosen from a list of five seniors selected by classmates. The other finalists include Jerrold Brazelton II,Shane Hopkins, Will Misconish and Joseph Morse.
Mr. Benedictine is considered the highest student award at Benedictine High School and is given, by election of the student body, to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the school’s mission statement according to the student council.
Ryan Kehres grew up in South Euclid, Ohio and now lives in Lyndhurst with his parents, Bob and Maria, brother Jack and sister Sophia. Ryan comes from a family deeply rooted in Benedictine; his uncles Tim Kehres ’83, Tom Kehres ’84 and Jim Kehres ’90, father Bob Kehres ’91, cousin Will Kehres ’22 and brother Jack Kehres ’22 are all graduates. Ryan’s Uncle Jim was awarded Mr. Benedictine in 1990, and his cousin and brother were finalists for the class of 2022.
Ryan has been involved in many organizations at Benedictine, including The Bennet as an editor and student council as vice-president. He is also a youth oblate, student ambassador and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a leader outside of the classroom, serving as a captain for the soccer team and hockey team. He also runs track. Ryan has played hockey his whole life, and led the Bengals to back-to-back Baron Cup championships.
During his career, he broke the all-time points and assists records. Ryan plans on attending Ohio University in the fall where he will major in Marketing and Strategic Management and Leadership. He hopes one day to come back to Benedictine as a staff member and a hockey coach.
Finalist Jerrold Brazelton, a Garfield Heights resident, is the son of Jerrold and Tiffany Brazelton, and has one older sister and a twin brother, Jalan.
Jerrold attended The Intergenerational School in Cleveland with his brother before they both came to Benedictine. Jerrold and his brother Jalan claim that after they took a tour of Benedictine–it was a “no-brainer.”
“I liked how the school prided itself on history and brotherhood,” Jerrold wrote in his biography. During his time at Benedictine, Jerrold has been a member of the school’s basketball team, baseball team and cross country team. Outside of sports, Jerrold is involved in several clubs including Ultimate Frisbee club, cornhole club, and is an active member in the school’s Key Club.
Jerrold is also a 4-year member of the student council. Jerrold will be attending Walsh University next year, where he will continue his athletic career in baseball.
Finalist Shane Hopkins of Brunswick is grateful for all that he has experienced during the past four years at Benedictine.
“I am honored to be grouped together with such outstanding men. Over the past four years, I have looked up to each of the four other nominees and admired their discipline, kindness, courage, and magnanimity. Most of all, I am inspired by the quality of their character and excited to see the great things they will go on to accomplish,” Hopkins said.
Shane is the son of Todd and Jillian Hopkins and the brother of Kaitlyn and Elizabeth Hopkins. Before attending Benedictine, he went through the Brunswick City School system, attending Crestview Elementary School, Willetts Middle School, and Brunswick Middle School. Shane grew up attending Benedictine football games with his grandfather, Charles Hopkins, who was a 1965 graduate of Benedictine.
He has played varsity baseball all four years of high school. He played freshman football, but then opted to become the team manager following his freshman year. He has continued to serve as the football team manager while also picking up duties such as operating the video board during basketball games and wrestling meets and running the clock for soccer games. Outside of sports, Shane has participated in student council, National Honor Society, and The Bennet. He was also named a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Award.
Another finalist, Will Misconish, also feels honored. “Being selected as a finalist alongside some of the best young men in his graduating class is one of the proudest moments of my life,” Misconish said.
Will is from Independence, Ohio. He is the son of Bill, ’88, and Jayme Misconish, and has two siblings, Alexis and Cory ’21. Will attended St. Michael Grade School in Independence before entering the halls of Benedictine.
While at Benedictine, Will played baseball his freshman year and was a 4-year letterman on the golf team, where he served as the #1 golfer and captain of the team. Will is the founder and president of the Cornhole Club and is a member of the Italian Heritage Club.
He was a member of the Undefended MOB Club during his freshman and sophomore years. He was also a student ambassador, giving tours and allowing prospective students to shadow him.
The fifth finalist, Joseph Morse, is from University Heights, Ohio. He is the son of Joe and Carrie Morse and has one brother, Patrick, who was also nominated for Mr. Benedictine in 2023. Before Benedictine, Joe attended Gesu Catholic School in University Heights. Joe has been a member of the football and baseball teams, serving as a varsity captain during his senior year of football.
He has been a member of the Italian Heritage Club, The Bennet, and Chess Club. Joe was appointed president of the Key Club in his senior year after serving as vice president in his junior year. Recently, he had the privilege of serving as co-president of the American Red Cross Blood Drive. Joseph also heads the partnership with the Lerner School for Children and Teens with Autism, something that he holds with high honor. Joseph was inducted into the Benet Chapter of the National Honor Society in his junior year and served as Warden of the Oath his senior year.
“I will always hold the title of being a Man of Benedictine with high regard and will take the lessons I have learned at Benedictine with me through life,” Morse said.
