2024 GHS Athletic Hall Of Fame - Class Of 2024

Chris Ford

Chris Ford was a key figure in GHS athletics for three years. While he helped the 1977 Maple Leaf basketball team win the first Regional Championship in the history of the school, it was the on gridiron where he excelled for three years. A two-time All-NCIC selection, he gained All-State honors as a senior. He was a three-year starter on teams that were 39-1, and collected three consecutive State Championships. He followed his high school career with four years at Augustana College, again with All-Conference honors and an All-Amereican selection as a senior. Chris has continued to share his talents as a coach at Christian Hope Academy and has served on the National Fellowship of Christian Athletes Football Board.

Lori (Hofer) Boldt

Lori (Hofer) Boldt was a three-peat standout at GHS for four years and added track as a fourth effort as well. In volleyball, she was All-Conference for two years and was chosen as MVP her senior year. During her three year varsity softball tenure, she again gained All-Conference honors after her senior year. On the basketball court she was a four year varsity performer, again earning All-Conference honors twice. After her senior year, Lori was chosen as the GHS Female Athlete Of The Year. After GHS, Lori entered the University of Illinois where she participated in volleyball and basketball.

Autumn (Bassett) Heap

Autumn (Bassett) Heap began her interest in golf at an early age, crediting her initial interest to her family outings at the Geneseo Country Club, beginning in 7th grade. Autumn played softball at GHS, but her focus continued to be golf. She played during summers at the Club and credits Julie (VerHeecke) Frels with helping her, especially with her short game. While in high school, she continued to play in summer tournaments, became a four year varsity letter winner and was the first GHS female golfer to excel in the postseason. She won the IHSA Regional, carding a 77, establishing a school record. Autumn led her team to the State Tournament, the very first GHS Golf team, boys or girls, to do so. That team finished 4th in the State, with Autumn placing 7th individually. After GHS, Autumn took her game to the collegiate level, playing at Illinois State University

Todd Akers

Todd Akers was a three sport athlete at GHS, winning All-Conference honors in both football and basketball where he was also named to the Quad-City and Kewanee Hog Fest All-Star teams. However, his highest honors were on the track where he ran the hurdles, and in the field, where he triple jumped, long jumped and high jumped, and was a four year letter winner. He was the NCIC High Jump Champ and qualified for the State Finals twice. Todd’s GHS record of 6’11” still stands after more than three decades. He received a track scholarship to the University of Illinois where he placed 6th in the Big Ten Outdoor Meet and also began competing in the javelin and the decathlon. After the U of I, he has become a National Registered Paramedic and is a certified search and rescue diver.

Marc Motzer

Marc Motzer was a three sport standout at GHS beginning in wrestling his freshman year when he was a NCIC Conference Champion, on his way to becoming a four year varsity performer. On the football field, he was a two year starter at quarterback, passed for 1,000 yards, was twice an All-NCIC selection, and was named to the Quad-City All-Star team and played a key role on the 1990 IHSA Football State Runner-up squad. Marc was a starter on the GHS Baseball team for three years, again earning NCIC honors and was named the Quad-City outstanding defensive player of the year. He topped off his GHS days by being awarded the John McCormick award as the outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. After GHS, Marc went to Kirkland College where he was a two-year starter and helped lead them to the JUCO World Series. He followed Kirkwood with a stint at Iowa State as a two year starter. After his collegiate days, Marc played with multiple professional teams and was invited to camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Allison (Farrell) Cooney

Allison (Farrell) Cooney began a career on the golf course as a GHS freshman that would distinguish her in high school and later at Western Illinois University. At GHS, she was named to the All-Metro golf team four years running, and was All-Conference as a junior and a senior, was named MVP for three years, and was chosen as area Pacesetter. Allison was regional champion her senior year, carding a 78 for the win. Allison's finish at the Sectional meet her senior year qualified her for State. After her GHS days, Allison continued her golf career at Western Illinois University with significant accomplishments on the links consistently for four years accompanied by Summit League All-Academic honors and was named a Distinguished Scholar. During the summer of 2024, Allison teamed with her dad to win the Father/Daughter Invitational Tournament in Kerry, Ireland.

Don Fredericks

Over more than three decades, Don Fredericks established a career resume at GHS that goes far beyond the overwhelming number of successes that his teams rang up. The numbers alone reflect only a small portion of his contribution to our school and community. Don's focus has always been on the student, not what he or she accomplished on the track or in the field, but their personal growth as a person, how they treat themselves and others with the dignity they deserve. While Don's athletes' accomplishments read like a litany of excellence, those who have had the privilege of his influence, from his very early days at GHS until the present, remember and speak of his conduct towards everyone, regardless of athletic success. Don Fredericks set the highest standard of character possible.

2007-2008 Maple Leafs Basketball Team

The 2007-2008 Maple Leafs Basketball team, coached by GHS grad Brad Storm was a senior dominated squad that was ranked all year in the State top 20 and topped their season with 20 wins. They began the season by winning a championship of their own Thanksgiving Tourney and finished it off with a trip to the Sweet 16. In the interim, they played to a second place finish in the rugged NCIC Conference, won two games at the prestigious Pekin Holiday Tournament, and reached the Championship game in the Iowa/Illinois Shootout, falling in triple overtime to the top team from Iowa. In the postseason, the Maple Leafs were Regional Champions and qualified for the Sectional finals, placing them in the Sweet 16 for only the second time in Maple Leafs Basketball history.

GHS Freshman Basketball Team Finishes Season at 9-5

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Members of the GHS Freshman Boys’ Basketball Team include, in front from left, Carter Dickey, Ethan Galloway, Dylan Haser, Gavin Hintgen, Jayden Wexell, Reese Minnaert; in back, Coach Josh Spensley, Tyler Gross, Jaydon Burrage, Keaton Ariano, Jack Kreiss and Andre Diedicker. Owen Finegan also was on the team, but joined the group after the photo was taken. Contributed Photo

The Geneseo High School Freshman Boys’ Basketball Squad finished their season with a 9-5 record, and Coach Josh Spensley said, “The Freshmen had a great season. We played an up-tempo game with full court pressure and a quick attacking offense.”

“Above all, a great group of guys on the court and off the court,” he added.

The team recorded 5-4 in Western Big 6 Conference play; 4-3 on the road; and 5-2 at home.

The road wins were against Rock Island, Galesburg, Moline and Kewanee.

GHS Sophomore Boys’ Basketball Team Finishes Season 12-13

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The Geneseo High School Sophomore Boys’ Basketball team finished their season with a 12-13 record; 6-8 in the WB 6 Conference. The team’s road wins were at Dixon, Quincy, Sterling and Alleman. In the photo are, front from left, Ashton Veloz, Aden McCann and Brody Clementz; in back, Coach Ky VanKerrebroeck, Grant Bomleny, Grady Bernahl, Kwin VanKerrebroeck and Landon Nordstrom. Greyson Carlson also is also a sophomore on the team, but was absent for the photo. There were five freshman that played on the team. Jack Kreiss, Keaton Ariano, Jaydon Burrage, Gavin Hintgen, and Dylan Haser. Contributed Photo

Maple Leafs Recent Results & Remaining Schedule

The Leafs (1-14, 0-5 WB6) fell to Moline 61-17 on Friday December 5th at Wharton Field House. January 9ths scheduled game with Galesburg has been postponed until Monday January 15th.

Remaining Varsity Schedule
01/12 7:00pm at Sterling
01/15 7:00pm Galesburg
01/19 7:00pm at Quincy
01/23 7:00pm at UTHS
01/26 7:00pm at Alleman
01/27 2:30pm Canton
02/02 7:00pm Rock Island (Senior & Autograph Night)
02/03 5:00pm at Orion
02/06 7:00pm Moline
02/09 7:00pm at Galesburg
02/13 7:00pm Sterling

One in a Row!

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

And Geneseo's varsity boys basketball team will take this new winning streak, thank you.

The Leafs began the Ryan Hill coaching era with a 58-41 win over the Erie-Prophetstown co-op team on Monday evening, Nov. 20.

It was the first game of the season, and it was part of the Geneseo Thanksgiving Tournament.

Geneseo didn't win a boys basketball game all of last season. That led to the dismissal of former Coach Brad Storm, and the hiring of Hill, who had been coaching at Davenport Central.

The Leafs showed a fast-moving defense and the ability to move the ball quickly on offense and hit shots from the wings in taking a 42-21 halftime lead.

The Panthers got more pressure on the ball after halftime and played their best quarter, outscoring Geneseo 16-8 to cut the Leaf lead to 50-37.

That gave Geneseo a chance to work on a time-killing weave on offense.

The Leafs wound up outscoring Erie-Prophetstown 8-4 in the fourth quarter to pull away to the 17-point victory.

There were some celebratory hugs as the Geneseo regulars came out in the closing seconds.

The tourney continues for Geneseo on Wednesday, Nov. 22, when the Leafs host Kewanee.