Monroeville Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees

The Monroeville Hall of Fame Committee has announced its sixteenth annual class of inductees. This year we will be inducting Lorrie Watkins, Marvin K. Smith, Drew Schafer and the 2003 Boys Track Team. The ceremony will take place on Saturday Jan. 11th, 2025 in the Cafeteria. Doors will open at 4:00pm with dinner beginning at 4:30. The ceremony will follow dinner. Inductees will also be recognized prior to the Varsity Boys Basketball game that evening. (Tickets are required to attend the event and are now on sale in the High School Athletic Office for $20 a person and include dinner provided by Bone Boys BBQ.) Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday Jan. 8th at 3pm. Each day this week, the Reflector will feature one of the inductees. Today's feature is Drew Schafer. Drew is the son of Ron and GayLynn Schafer, along with 2 siblings, Erica Krueger, and Brock Schafer, both Monroeville graduates. He currently resides in Norwalk with his girlfriend Holly Schrader. Drew attended St. Joseph Catholic School through 8th grade. He was a server and a member of the Catholic Church. Drew graduated from Monroeville High School in 2004 and was a member of the National Honor Society. Drew was Jr. Class President, participated in FFA and earned 8 varsity letters - 4 in Baseball and 4 in wrestling at MHS. Drew's passion for the sport of wrestling began at an early age. He began competing at the age of 6. Drew, along with his dad traveled throughout Ohio and surrounding states to compete in various tournaments. Many weekends were spent in gymnasiums, always striving to bring home a trophy or medal. By junior high, he was driven to achieve excellence. His pursuit of perfection led him to the best wrestling camps the country had to offer. His efforts paid off throughout his Jr. High years, winning several tournaments and qualifying for the first ever Ohio Junior High State Tournament, in both 7th and 8th grade, placing 6th and 4th respectively. Fueled by his early successes, Drew embraced the challenges of high school wrestling. He dominated the competition, during his tenure Drew won many tournaments, was a four-time Firelands Conference Champion and qualified for the State tournament all 4 years. In his freshman year, he became Monroeville's first ever state placer in the history of the school. During his Junior year, Drew finished state runner-up with a record of 48-1, and 3d place finishes his senior season. Drew was voted Most Valuable Wrestler at 5 separate tournaments in his senior year and finished with a high school record of 164-11. He was awarded the 2001 Excellence Award, setting a new level of excellence for MHS wrestling. After high school, Drew attended Ohio Northern University and studied Sports Medicine. He continued competing in wrestling at ONU. Drew was the champion at the Ohio Northern University Invitational and the Ohio Athletic Conference, qualifying him for the NCAA national tournament as a true freshman. Unfortunately, injuries ended his wrestling career.Once his wrestling career concluded, Drew's lifelong love of sports and commitment to physical fitness inspired him to pursue a career in personal training. He became a Certified Personal Trainer and took his first role in operating and running a gym in Twinsburg, Ohio. Drew then moved to California, continued training and learning the business side of the fitness industry. During the pandemic, he returned home and focused on his dream of owning and operating a gym and sports complex. He believed such a facility would have a positive impact on his hometown. After a lot of searching, he found a 50,000 sq ft warehouse that had been sitting vacant in Norwalk. With the help of family, friends, and the support of the surrounding communities, Drew made his dream a reality. After a lot of demanding work, blood, and sweat, he transformed the warehouse into what is now called Xtreme Fitness and Sports Complex and was opened in April of 2021. Xtreme has become a thriving fitness facility for the community, offering a range of equipment and programs for all ages. Additionally, Xtreme houses a dedicated wrestling room for kids and teens, fostering the next generation of athletes. Beyond the wrestling program, the 20,000 square-foot facility boasts a versatile turf field. This space accommodates both soccer and football practices, as well as batting cages for baseball and softball training. A key part of Drew's vision for the gym was to encourage young people to participate in sports and fitness activities, igniting a lifelong love of health and wellness. A highlight in Drew's journey is starting the first ever Special Olympic powerlifting team in the area, collaborating with the Huron County Board of Development Disabilities. Drew looks forward to growing the business and offering even more programs and services to people of all ages in the community. He is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those who walk through the doors of Xtreme. In October 2024, Drew expanded his business endeavors by launching Perfect Platez, a pre-made healthy meal company in Norwalk. This venture aligns with his broader mission of promoting wellness and empowering individuals to achieve their health goals. Through Perfect Platez, he aims to provide convenient and nutritious meal options while also further promoting healthy living. Drew's ultimate mission is to give back to the community by mentoring young people and helping others achieve their goals. He recognizes the invaluable support he received from others and aims to pay it forward. As he continues to grow his businesses, Drew remains dedicated to his role as a mentor, inspiring and guiding others on their own paths to success.