Westfield Student Cash Ballard Honored with Prestigious Mental Attitude Award
On a night designed to celebrate excellence in Indiana high school athletics, one name stood out not just for performance on the field, but for character lived out every day: Cash Ballard of Westfield High School.
Ballard was recently named the recipient of the IHSAA Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for Class 6A football, one of the state’s highest honors recognizing a senior student-athlete who exemplifies mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability across his high school career. While trophies and championships often define success in sports, this award tells a deeper story about integrity, resilience and service.
“Cash is a model student-athlete who epitomizes what hard work, dedication and belief can do to maximize one’s potential as an athlete,” says Andy Tebbe, athletic director at Westfield High School. “It has been a joy seeing Cash not only grow into an elite student and an elite athlete, but also an elite leader at WHS.”
That leadership has been evident in every aspect of Cash’s high school experience. Academically, he ranks among the top students in his class, challenging himself through Advanced Placement and dual-credit coursework. His excellence in the classroom earned recognition from the Westfield Washington Schools Board of Trustees at their annual Evening of Excellence Awards. Teachers consistently note his positive presence and meaningful classroom contributions.
Athletically, Cash’s journey is one of perseverance. A multi-sport athlete who has competed in football, baseball and golf, he ultimately became a varsity starting center for the Rocks football program through relentless offseason work and mental fortitude. He battled through multiple injuries during his career, yet never wavered in his commitment to his teammates or the mission of the program. That mindset led to his election as a senior captain and a key member of the Football Leadership Council.
“Our staff is extremely grateful for Cash Ballard’s leadership and commitment to continuing to build into our Rocks football family,” says Josh Miracle, head football coach at Westfield High School. “Aside from winning the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award, Cash served as a team captain, was a pivotal member of the leadership council, and excelled on the field as our team’s starting center. Cash certainly embodies our Outwork and Outlove culture.”
Yet it is perhaps beyond competition where Cash’s impact is most profound. His high school career reflects a consistent commitment to service and lifting others. He has coached youth through Rock School Athletic Development and football camps, mentored incoming freshmen as a senior mentor, and led programs for elementary students at Oak Trace Elementary. His compassion extends further through his work with Robbie’s Hope, advocating for teen suicide awareness and prevention, and his leadership in organizing book donations for Indiana foster youth through the Department of Child Services. He has also volunteered with Hands of Hope, supporting adoption and orphan care initiatives.
In recommending Cash for the award, WHS Assistant Principal Denver Wade captured the heart of his influence, writing that, “Cash loves Westfield football and has excelled as a student-athlete. However, it is Cash’s greater sense of community and love of service that makes him a beacon of leadership both within the program and across our school.”
Cash’s achievements also include being a member of Westfield’s state championship boys golf team, and his future remains just as promising. Currently deciding between Stanford University and Yale University, he plans to study finance and accounting.
The Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award is named for a former IHSAA commissioner who believed athletics should build character as much as champions. In honoring Cash Ballard, the award affirms that vision. While wins and losses fade with time, the values Cash represents — resilience, humility, service and leadership — leave a lasting mark on a program, a school and a community.
In that sense, this award is more than an individual honor. It is a reflection of Westfield’s values and a reminder that sometimes, the greatest victories have nothing to do with the final score.
