John Medina

John was a three-year starter in football and track during his high school years at PSHS from 1979-1982. In football, he was captain his senior year and played running back and defensive end for the Bulldogs. His athletic skills did not go unnoticed as he was selected for the MVC First Team All-Conference in his junior and senior years on defense. Besides earning “Player of the Week” throughout his high school career, John was selected by Ohio Football on the All-State Cream of the Crop team for defense during his junior year. He will say his greatest joy was beating the Canfield Cardinals on Poland’s Baird Mitchell Field his senior season, bringing the trophy back to Poland Seminary.

Not only did John thrive in football, he was also a strong competitor in track and field. He ran the 300m low hurdles, and was the first student in Poland to run this event. He also ran the 400m relay and 400m, as well as participating in the long jump. The 300m low hurdles event is where John placed in the top three in regular track meets as well as the conference championship meets. In 1980, he helped the Poland Track Team go undefeated in conference and win the third in a row MVC Track Championship Title.

Besides excelling in sports with his athleticism, John was given the Boys’ State Certificate of Attendance and The Mark Roger’s Humanitarian Award by the Poland teachers and administration.

John married his high school sweetheart (Maria Polito) whom he had three children with (Jenna, Johnny, and Antonio). All three children are PSHS graduates who followed in their dad’s footsteps as sports enthusiasts and letter winners as well.

Faith, family, and community were key to John growing up in Poland and he believed in giving back. He coached softball and baseball for many years and was league director and VP of softball. In 2019, John was inducted into the PCBA Hall of Fame.

John is still a current member and trustee of the Poland Touchdown Club. In 2007-2008, he was a part of The Turf Club Committee to raise funds for the new field and stadium. In 2009, he organized the Poland Touchdown Club’s golf outing and remains the Co-Director with Bob Richards raising funds for the program. You can see John during the week coaching the Junior High Football Team and on Friday nights assisting the Varsity Team.