Kansas’ Jack Punswick Selected as 2025 National High School Spirit of Sport Award Recipient

Jack Punswick, a state champion swimmer from Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kansas, who is battling cancer, has been selected as the 2025 national recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” was created by the NFHS to recognize individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.

Punswick, who won the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 6A state title in the 100-yard breaststroke as a junior in 2024, began his senior year at Blue Valley West with a cancer diagnosis that suddenly threatened his promising future as a swimmer.

What was initially believed to be pneumonia symptoms in the summer between his junior and senior years was eventually determined in September to be Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. Punswick immediately began chemotherapy treatments to battle the cancer while he remained focused on getting back into the pool. Punswick gained strength with the realization that he swam the fastest times of his life during the USA Swimming Futures Championships in July as cancer was invading his body.

During his months of treatment, his connection to the school’s swim team provided Punswick with the determination to rally and defend his state title at the 2025 KSHSAA Swimming Championships. He continued to practice even if his body was struggling to maintain his elite level of performance.

After completing his chemotherapy regimen in December, Punswick was cleared to return to racing. In his first competition, he qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke – he would officially be able to defend his title. The amazing feat, however, took everything Punswick had as teammates had to pull him out of the pool afterwards to recover.

Punswick’s health and strength gradually returned throughout the season. As the state meet neared, he registered the year’s fastest time in the state in his signature event.

At the state championship in February, Punswick swam to a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Although unable to claim a repeat title, he celebrated the fact he was even at the meet and able to compete.

While cancer presented Punswick with a formidable challenge, he also viewed his ordeal as an opportunity to appreciate “daily wins” for himself and others. It has inspired him to pursue a career in physical therapy, where he can devote his life to improving other people’s lives by helping them rebound from their setbacks.

About the Award

In addition to the selection of Jack Punswick as the national award recipient, the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee chose seven other individuals for section awards. Following are the 2025 National High School Spirit of Sport section winners:

Section 1 – Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez, student-athlete, Long Beach (New York) High School

Having survived a near-fatal chimpanzee attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at age 6, Sibomana-Rodriguez has persevered through over 14 reconstructive surgeries and significant physical challenges to claim two New York State Public High School Athletic Association wrestling championships.

Section 2 – Britt Redman, student-athlete, Louisville (Kentucky) Christian Academy

Diagnosed with testicular cancer during the football playoffs of his junior season, Redman battled the disease to return for his senior season in 2024. The wide receiver helped lead his team to a Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship and helped create a foundation to support kids battling cancer.

Section 3 – Lulu and Ellie Gribbin, student-athletes, Mountain Brook (Alabama) High School

In the summer of 2024, Lulu Gribbin suffered a shark attack while on vacation in Florida, resulting in nine surgeries and the amputation of one of her hands and one of her legs. While the attack ended her high school career in volleyball and basketball, Lulu turned to  golf as she began her rehabilitation with her identical twin sister, Ellie, by her side encouraging her the entire time.

Section 4 – Charlotte Vinson, student-athlete, Yorktown (Indiana) High School

In May 2024, a strep infection spread to Vinson’s bloodstream, resulting in kidney failure and placing the standout volleyball player at Yorktown on life support for more than a week. After a four-week stay in the hospital and losing 20 pounds, Vinson regained her strength to return to volleyball for her senior season, helping lead her team to a semi-state title.

Section 5 – Jack Punswick, student-athlete, Overland Park (Kansas) Blue Valley West High School

Section 6 – Olavio Hernandez, student-athlete, Estancia (New Mexico) High School

Hernandez’s lower right leg was amputated after a cancer diagnosis during his freshman year. Intense physical therapy eventually led Hernandez back to the basketball court, where he finished his high school career this year and served as an inspiration for his Estancia teammates and community.

Section 7 – Javi Sanchez, student-athlete, Mount Pleasant (Utah) Wasatch Academy

Sanchez, who was not expected to be able to walk as a child, has endured multiple surgeries and exceeded all expectations to be a valued member of his high school’s basketball team. His positive attitude and consistent optimism serve as an inspiration to his peers and community.

Section 8 – Avery Teed, student-athlete, Portland (Oregon) Edison High School

Teed’s high school baseball career was shattered before he even had the opportunity to complete his freshman season after a devastating diagnosis led to surgery to amputate his pitching arm. He returned to the baseball diamond for his senior year in 2024 and learned to excel as a para-athlete state champion in track and field.

Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee. The national winner and section recipients will be recognized June 28 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

The National High School Spirit of Sport Award was started in 2008. The previous national award recipients follow:

2008 – Tammy Dufford, cheerleading coach, Evergreen (Colorado) High School, and Megan Bomgaars, cheerleader, Evergreen (Colorado) High School

2009 – Dakota Dana, student-athlete, Afton (Wyoming) Star Valley High School

2010 – Tori Clark, student-athlete, Roselle (Illinois) Lake Park High School

2011 – New Kensington (Pennsylvania) Valley High School Softball Team and Umpire Bill Dithrich

2012 – Jacob Goldberg, student-athlete, Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Pine Crest High School

2013 – Magoffin County High School, Salyersville, Kentucky, and Logan County High School, Russellville, Kentucky

2014 – Zach Pickett, student-athlete, Shingle Springs (California) Ponderosa High School

2015 – Grace Cummings, student-athlete, Madison (Connecticut) High School

2016 – Ashley Carson, student-athlete, Ord (Nebraska) High School

2017 – Danny Lilya, student-athlete, Moose Lake (Minnesota) High School

2018 – Marissa Walker, student-athlete, Waterford (Connecticut) High School

2019 – Amanda Merrell, student-athlete, Huntingtown (Maryland) High School

2020 – Noah Lambrecht, student-athlete, McCool-Junction (Nebraska) High School

2021 – Hayden Holton, student-athlete, Elmore County (Alabama) High School

2022 – The Wyatt Family, Medina (Tennessee) South Gibson High School

2023 – Gabe Marsh, student-athlete, Guntersville (Alabama) High School

2024 – Merik Dismang, student-athlete, Olathe (Kansas) East High School

Chris Boone is assistant director of publications and communications at the NFHS and assistant editor of High School Today.