USV’s Underwood to receive scholarship

Upper Scioto Valley’s Maddox Underwood will receive a $500 scholarship toward his academic endeavors. The Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame announced he is one of two winners of the “2025 Wes Davis Memorial Scholarship.”

The banquet will take place Saturday at 5 p.m. at St. John’s Church in Kenton.

Maddox, son of Rob and Michelle Underwood, is a 2025 graduate of Upper Scioto Valley High School and the oldest of four siblings.

Maddox was a four-year varsity letterman in football, basketball, and baseball, and a two-year letterman in track and field.

On the football field, he earned Northwest Central Conference 2nd Team honors as a freshman and was 1st Team NWCC the next three years. As a senior, he was named NWCC Offensive Player of the Year and Academic All-Ohio, while also receiving All-State Honorable Mention in Division VII.

On the basketball court, Maddox was NWCC Honorable Mention as a freshman and received 1st Team NWCC as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was selected as the NWCC Player of the Year as a senior and garnered 1st Team District recognition.

In baseball, he earned 1st Team NWCC his freshman through junior year and All-District 1st Team honors and Prep’s 2nd Team All-State as a junior. In track, he tied the school high jump record and won the NWCC Conference meet in high jump and placed 2nd in long jump.

In addition to his athletic success, Maddox finished at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA and was involved in various leadership activities. He earned the State FFA Degree, and during his senior year, he served as the Hardin County Fair King and exhibited the Grand Champion Market Steer. He was a Business Professionals of America State Qualifier numerous times and a National Qualifier his senior year. He served as Class President and Vice President and was a member of the Student Council.

Maddox was inducted into both the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. His volunteer efforts included participation in Relay for Life, Holiday Food Packaging, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youth Basketball, and other community outreach programs. He works on the family grain and livestock farm and for Top Choice Asphalt and Concrete. Maddox will play football at Ohio Northern University.