Peyton Hoblock

Basketball was one of Peyton Hoblock’s first loves. She says she remembers her first season of basketball all the way back in second grade at the Ciccotti Center. Though she has always enjoyed playing the sport, Hoblock says it was the friends she made through basketball that kept her around.

“Some of my closest friends came from basketball,” she said. “One of my closest friends has been with me since about third grade, and we still work out and practice together. Most of them were with me through my last AAU season last year, and we had been playing together since about third or fourth grade.”

With a strong core of longtime friends, Hoblock and Shaker High School put together a special season in her final year at the school. The Blue Bison took home the suburban council, sectional, and regional championships.

“It was a lot of hard work,” Hoblock said. “It started in the offseason with everyone working together. A lot of people came together, put our ideas together, and became successful over the last couple of years. It was really good to see, and bittersweet once it ended.”

That says nothing of Hoblock’s individual accomplishments. She has garnered two-time WNYT-TV basketball all-star and two-time Section 2 All-Tournament Team selections, along with a Section 2 tournament MVP honor.

“She has always had a natural skillset and athletic ability, and she has always had her height advantage,” said Jaimee Shipley, Shaker Varsity Basketball Coach. “Even with that advantage, natural talent, and athleticism, Peyton worked hard every day, in season, preseason, and out of season, for four years to improve. She had a goal to be a Division 1 player, and nothing was going to stop her. She spent countless hours working on her craft and in the weight room to get stronger and more explosive. Before her junior year was over, she had more than a dozen Division 1 offers.”

As crazy as it sounds, Hoblock had even bigger ambitions than just playing Division 1 basketball. She also sought to choose a school that would challenge her academically just like Division 1 basketball would. She chose Dartmouth.

“I chose Dartmouth obviously because of the academics, you can’t beat that,” she said. “But it was really the coaching staff and the girls that I fell in love with. It felt like a great place for me to be. The coach is so supportive, and you can tell she really loves the girls.”

Support is something that matters to Hoblock. When she was a part of the Section II Athletic Advisory Council, she heard from students at other schools about their athletic advisory councils.

“I wanted to implement a student voice in the athletic department,” Hoblock said. “We do things in the athletic department like official appreciation, help out with banquets such as the unified banquet, and assist with banners. We kind of go throughout the athletic department and help the students and coaches as best we can.”

“Peyton approached me with a thoughtful proposal to establish the Shaker High Athletic Advisory Council,” said Sean Colfer, Shaker’s Athletic Director. “Through her initiative, vision, and persistence, this organization has become a meaningful voice for student-athletes in our school. Peyton has led the council with purpose and empathy, organizing monthly meetings, coordinating community service events and recognitions for officials, and spearheading initiatives that support athletes across all programs. Her leadership in this space reflects a maturity and selflessness that is truly uncommon.”

Hoblock’s support of athletes goes even beyond the walls of Shaker High School. She’s involved in coaching youth programs and clinics, just like the ones she and her friends were a part of when they were younger.

“It’s really great seeing the younger kids, especially because I remember being nervous around the older girls when they coached me,” Hoblock said. “They’re really great kids, and I love seeing that and knowing I was there once too. It’s a little bittersweet, but the girls are just awesome. I think my favorite part is coaching those camps in the summer and seeing the girls really grow throughout the years.”

While Peyton Hoblock may be the name going into the CDSWOY Class of 2026, she is quick to recognize all the people who helped her get here.

“It is such an honor,” she said. “When I heard, my parents and I were just blown away. I want to thank the council for nominating me for this award. It’s really great to see all my hard work pay off. I definitely wouldn’t be here without my teammates and my coaches.”

“I, for one, could not be prouder of all she’s accomplished in 18 short years,” Coach Shipley said. “I am excited to see what’s next for her and am even more proud of her strong, positive character. We need more Peyton Hoblocks in this world.”