From August 9–11, 2026, SPIRE Academy hosted the inaugural Patriot Games, a national athletic competition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, with the country’s top young athletes converging on our campus in Geneva, Ohio. Over three days, the eyes of the nation were on SPIRE.

The event brought together student-athletes ages 14–17 from every state and territory, competing across strength, speed, endurance, and teamwork challenges for a share of a $250,000 scholarship prize pool. The finale on August 11 drew national broadcast attention and a visit from President Donald Trump, with the games later airing in a primetime ESPN on ABC special.

Two champions were crowned: Kennadi Fuhrman of Kansas and Rockwell Myers of Utah, who each earned $125,000 in scholarship money.

For SPIRE, the Patriot Games were more than a venue booking, they were a national showcase of what our 850,000-square-foot campus was built to do. Hosting a competition of this scale meant putting our full range of facilities to work, from indoor and outdoor tracks to full-size fields and an Olympic-size aquatics center, all on one 800-acre campus. It’s the same environment our student-athletes train in every day.

Want the full story? Read our complete recap, including answers to every question people are asking about the Patriot Games: The 2026 Patriot Games at SPIRE — Everything You Need to Know →

SPIRE in the National Spotlight

For three days, Geneva, Ohio was at the center of the national conversation. From coast-to-coast outlets to hometown newspapers, the Patriot Games and the SPIRE campus that hosted them drew coverage from some of the biggest names in media. Here’s a look at where the story was told:

National Coverage

The Washington Post reported live from the finale, opening its coverage on the SPIRE campus itself. Read the story →

CNN spotlighted SPIRE as the boarding school and training campus behind the event, with the story also featured on its One Thing podcast. Read the story →

TIME featured SPIRE as the host campus, spotlighting the sports-focused academy in Geneva. Read the story →

The Hill described SPIRE as a world-class multisport campus uniting college-preparatory academics with elite athletic training. Read the story →

Forbes covered the finale, including the Pat McAfee appearance, with SPIRE as the setting for a nationally watched moment. Read the story →

USA Today and other national outlets covered the finale, and Associated Press photos from the SPIRE campus appeared on hundreds of news sites nationwide. Read the story →

Across Northeast Ohio

Axios Cleveland called the games a moment that put one of Northeast Ohio’s premier athletic facilities on the national stage. Read the story →

News 5 Cleveland put the spotlight on SPIRE’s own student-athletes, including Zion John-Baptiste, who competed for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Liv Harness, who served as Ohio’s alternate. Read the story →

Cleveland 19 News shared SPIRE’s perspective on how academics and athletics work together to shape young lives. Read the story →

WKYC, Fox 8, Spectrum News 1, and Cleveland Jewish News followed the event from arrival through the finale, capturing the community pride on display, from 600 flags lining the campus to a brand-new 150-foot flagpole.

In the Community

The Star Beacon brought day-by-day coverage from the competition, keeping the Ashtabula County community close to the action all week long. Read the story →

Youth Sports Business Report highlighted SPIRE as an accredited college-preparatory boarding school and one of the largest youth sports training campuses in the country. Read the story →

Be Part of What’s Next at SPIRE

The Patriot Games put a national spotlight on SPIRE Academy — but what happens here every day is the real story. If the event put SPIRE on your radar, here are two ways to take the next step:

Enrollment is still open for the 2026–27 academic year. It’s not too late to secure your student-athlete’s spot at one of the country’s premier training and college-preparatory campuses. Start your enrollment inquiry →

Get first access to 2027 camps. Join our priority camp list now to lock in early access and an exclusive discount when camp registration opens this November. Join the priority camp list →