Top High School Football Player Thanks Custodian for Being No. 1 Fan

When a student was named Ohio’s top high school football player he thanked his school custodian in his acceptance speech, WCPO-TV reports.

Corey Kiner from Roger Bacon High School in St. Bernard, Ohio—who was named Mr. Football—singled out custodian Jeff Rapking as making a big impact on his time at school.

“Nobody has more [Roger] Bacon spirit than Jeff,” Kiner said “If there’s days where I’m sad or mad, I see Jeff and he says, ‘There goes 22.’ My frown turns to a smile instantly.”

Rapking has been a custodian at the high school for more than 35 years. Last year, Kiner had a shirt made with Rapking’s name and the school’s logo, and all the football player signed it. Kiner also gave Rapking his jersey from the 2020 season, and Rapking wore it at a football game.

“I love it,” Rapking told WCPO-TV.

Kiner added that Rapking puts a smile on his face and that he is the “first person to say ‘Good job’. So I let him be ‘22’ for the day. To be able to put a smile on his face meant the world to me.”