​Geneva has long set the standard for track and field in Ashtabula County, and this season the Eagles extended that tradition once again by dominating the Ashtabula County Meet. Annah Haeseler and Emily Long, selected as the girls’ and boys’ county coaches of the year by their peers, underscored Geneva’s enduring prominence in the county.
At the Pymatuning Valley county meet, Geneva’s boys earned 143.5 points, edging Edgewood, which totaled 111. The Eagles saw standout performances from Alexander Lee in the 100 meters (11.83 seconds) and Elliott Salgado in the 110-meter hurdles (16.63). The 4×100 relay team, comprised of Salgado, Dawson Pecore, Alexander Lee, and Cooper Dubsky, clocked a winning 45.46, while Dubsky also captured first in the long jump with a best of 19 feet 8 inches. “It’s always fun to win all county,” Long said. “It’s definitely one of our season goals, given the long-standing tradition for both the boys’ and girls’ teams.” With those efforts, Geneva won its sixth consecutive all-county title, continuing a string that had already seen the Eagles win the county meet in 2019; the 2020 event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, as were many high school spring sports in Ohio.
Despite some graduation losses, including Joalexander Sanchez and Salgado, Long remains confident in the team’s depth. She expects several athletes to step into prominent roles and contribute across events. In the throws, Jesse Butterfield and Jacob Clemens are anticipated to return, aiding a rugged group that also features sprinters Nathan Opron, Dubsky, Chevon Rought, Nick Sabin, Lee, and Zach McKinney, with distance runners Zander Gersin, Ethan Schenk, John D’Alessandro, and Drew Clutter. Dubsky notably won multiple long jump titles during the season, posting a season-best 21 feet 3.25 inches at the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division championships. In addition, Pecore and Jackson Dodd bring experience in pole vaulting, further bolstering Geneva’s lineup.
On the girls’ side, Geneva amassed 179 points to take first place, with Jefferson a distant second at 110. The Eagles claimed six first-place finishes, led by Gia Palmisano and Ella Haesler, who each earned two victories. Palmisano claimed wins in the 100 meters (13.40) and the 400 meters (1:00.02), while Haeseler swept the discus (112 feet 6 inches) and the shot put (33 feet 5 inches). Isabel Stocker won the high jump at 4 feet 8 inches, and the 4×200 relay team of Ellie Gersper, Stocker, Alex Into, and Kylee March captured first with a time of 1:54.91.
“This season was a success due to the hard work of the athletes,” Geneva girls’ coach Annah Haeseler said. “We had an overall young team, with some solid veterans. I’m proud to be part of the Geneva track tradition.” Geneva’s girls added a sixth consecutive all-county title after winning every county championship since 2020; the program had previously secured 18 straight county championships before the 2020 season was canceled by the pandemic.
Looking ahead, some players are preparing to depart for college, including Haeseler, who plans to attend Cleveland State University to continue throwing. Other returning standouts include Palmisano, a sprinter; Taylor Noce, a runner; Grace Andrus, who competes in pole vault and running events; and Daniella Bobish, who has contributed in multiple events. With continued depth and a strong pipeline of talent, Geneva appears well positioned to sustain its tradition of excellence in Ashtabula County and beyond.