SPIRE

TRACK & FIELD


BOARDING SCHOOL

SPIRE is home to one of the largest, most amazing indoor and outdoor track & field complexes in world. Its world class training programs are ideal for the serious athlete seeking an intense training environment to prepare for the next level of competition.

The Academy programs serve college-bound high school athletes, as well as high school graduates looking to train/compete for an additional post grad year while seeking the best possible college scholarship opportunities. Olympic hopefuls and Masters athletes looking for a residential training base also find SPIRE to be the perfect environment to realize their full potential.

Key Features

  • A 25,000 sq. ft. Performance Training Center focused on physical conditioning, mental skills training and nutrition/hydration training
  • An “olympic village” setting with U.S. and international athletes in multiple sports
  • 750-acre campus; 850,000 sq ft of indoor sports facilities; on site residential housing; on site academic center, SPIRE FUEL cafeteria and more.

Outdoor Complex

  • 9 lane, 400-meter polyurethane international track (42’ width lanes)
  • 4 long jump pits, 8 high jump positions and 4 pole vault boxes
  • Adjacent Throws Stadium, meeting IAAF standards

Indoor Complex

  • 8 lane, 300-meter Rekortan track around the oval with a 10 lane straightaway and radius similar to those on outdoor tracks.
  • Separate indoor field event areas: 2 high jumps, 2 long and triple jumps, 2 pole vault areas, 2 shot put circles and weight throw area with cage

SPIRE’s world-class coaching trains athletes across:

  • 100m | 200m | 400m | 800m | 1500m
  • 110/100m hurdles
  • Pole vault
  • Long jump
  • High jump
  • Triple jump
  • Hammer
  • Shot put
  • Discus
  • Javelin
  • Cross Country

HIGH SCHOOL

SPIRE’s boarding school features a college preparatory academic curriculum, along with unique personal skills development and career preparation features.

SPIRE Academy features a blended learning environment of college preparatory academics, along with unique personal development and career preparation features.

SPIRE provides ideal exposure to the collegiate coaching network, and its college placement team has delivered hundreds of athletes into collegiate programs across the U.S.

SPIRE is committed to developing technically skilled track and field athletes who love to train and live to compete. This is accomplished via an intensive regimen of technical and tactical training, customized competition and long-term athletic performance development.

Bottom line: SPIRE builds strong, confident, mentally tougher athletes who learn to embrace a challenge and thrive under the pressure of competition.

Download the admissions guide now to learn more about joining SPIRE’s world-class Track & Field boarding school.

POST GRAD

Welcome to SPIRE’s Post Graduate Program, the world’s premier destination for high school graduates seeking to optimize athletic, academic and leadership abilities.

SPIRE’s unique PG program delivers customized track & field training/competition directed by top coaches in each division. Sometimes referenced as a gap year after high school, PG offers athletes a unique opportunity to enhance their overall academic, athletic and personal standing with top college coaches and programs.

Our aim is to empower student athletes to pursue their goals with confidence, knowing that their unique paths will lead them to success. Here are a few of the key opportunities SPIRE’s Post Grad program offers:

  • Enhance academic standing
  • Sport-specific training
  • Experience college life
  • Athletic and Personal Development
  • Get noticed
  • College Planning and Placement

There’s no better way to impress college coaches and increase leadership opportunities. You don’t have to find the best college coaches. They’ll find you.

WORLD CLASS TRAINING

Training Programs & Events

SPIRE hosts a wide variety of seasonal camp, clinic, club and customized training programs geared toward athletes and teams of all ages and ability levels, such as:

  • Big Ten
  • Big East
  • NAIA
  • Horizon League Indoor T&F Championships
  • Big East and GLIAC Outdoor T&F Championships
  • NCAA D-1 and D-2 meets and more
  • Track Events

Elite Track & Field Athletes

Athletes who have utilized SPIRE as a Training Center:

  • Jenn Suhr (Olympic and World Pole Vault Champion)
  • Nathan Brennan (Olympic 1500m Finalist – Canada)
  • Jessica Beard (Silver Medalist for Team USA at World Championships, 400m and 4×4)
  • Rob Golabek (US Olympic Trials Shot Put Finalist)
  • John Lundy (NCAA D-2 Champion. 200m – 20.90)
  • Bryson Spratling (World Record Holder at 500m)
  • Geoff Davis (NCAA All American – HJ)
  • Aikaterina Stefanidi (NCAA Champion – PV, 3rd at 2016 World Indoor Championships)
  • Erica and Dan Kinsey (Erica 7th at 2016 World Indoor Championships)
  • Mohamid Halim (World Championships Qualifier)

TEAM TRACK & FIELD AT SPIRE

TIM MACK

Track & Field

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Kerron Stewart

Track & Field

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Michael Larkin

Track & Field

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Joshua Malave

Admissions Manager

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Olivia Jones

Track & Field

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CHARLIE POWELL

Track & Field

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ACADEMY MODEL

SPIRE’s experienced faculty, coaches, performance specialists, college and career counseling staff are dedicated to delivering an atmosphere that produces strong, confident, dedicated student athletes. Our goal is to develop everyone to excel both in & out of the classroom and inside & outside the competitive arena.

Academics

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College & Career

Counseling

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Track & Field

Camps

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Campus

Life

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Athletic

Development

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Personal

Development

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ACADEMY FAQ'S

  • Tell me about the educational delivery model.

    SPIRE Academy provides in person inquiry, mastery based learning. Students focus on group projects, presentation and other ways to demonstrate students master the curriculum. 

    SPIRE’s learning environment balances academic and athletic training and development that nurture personal growth and stimulate the desire to challenge oneself.

    Teachers guide and facilitate learning through engaging, hands-on activities, creative and critical thinking skills, and classroom dialogue.

  • Do you offer day programs or is it only boarding options?

    SPIRE Academy offers a day student option for local students who can commute to campus. Day students receive all the same benefits as boarding students but live at home instead of in SPIRE’s Student Village.

  • How good do I have to be in my sport?

    SPIRE accepts athletes of varying ability, but they all have one thing in common.  They come to SPIRE because they have the heart and desire to become better student athletes.  SPIRE student athletes come from various competitive backgrounds and all have different goals they want to achieve while here and beyond, whether it is to continue their sport after high school or beyond.

  • What does a day look like?

    Academy Sample Schedule:

    6:00am-7:00am Breakfast
    7:00am – 8:50am – Block 1
    9:00am – 10:50am Block 2
    10:50am – 11:50am Lunch
    12:00pm -1:50pm Block 3
    2:00pm – 3:50pm Block 4
    4:00pm – 5:50pm Block 5
    6:00pm-7:15pm Dinner

    Depending on the individual coaches periodization, athletes may train once or twice a day. Performance would also be flexible as to where it falls during the day (and how many days per week) as well.

  • Where do student athletes live on campus? Will I have a roommate?

    SPIRE Boarding Students live in the SPIRE SPIRE Village which consists of three styles of dorms. Most of the dorms are like mini homes with single used bathrooms and large family room.

    Yes, most students have two students per room, some students might have up to 3 students in a room. 

  • How much is the tuition?

    Day rates are different than boarding rates please contact us for more information [email protected].

  • How does SPIRE assist with college planning and placement?

    At SPIRE, we believe that the college planning and placement process is one of the most important aspects of Academy life—and you can’t start this process too early! 

    Our college planning process begins freshman year and only concludes when a student has graduated from college or chosen and achieved their goals on a different path.  

    SPIRE works with student athletes to find a university that is a good fit academically, athletically and socially.  Students are taught how to search for colleges and universities with their intended major as well as their desired sport using the guidance of their coaches, teachers and advisors.  This includes how to communicate with schools and coaches, fill out the Common Application and other applications, including filing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

  • What are the benefits of a Post Grad year?

    Students come for Post Grad year to train and develop at a higher level with aspirations of higher level of recruiting success. The students have a better understanding of what it takes to get to the collegiate level.

  • Racial Nondiscriminatory Policy

    The governing board of SPIRE Academy located at 5201 SPIRE Circle in Geneva, Ohio 44041 has adopted the following racial nondiscriminatory policies.

    SPIRE Academy recruits and admits students of any race, color or ethnic origin to all its rights, privileges, programs and activities. In addition, SPIRE Academy will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

    SPIRE Academy will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.

  • Does SPIRE offer scholarships and financial assistance?

    SPIRE offers a limited amount of financial aid. Recipients are selected based on academics, athletics, character and financial review. For more information, please reference our admissions page.

  • Where can I find additional information about living at SPIRE Academy?

    Click here to find all resources related to living on the SPIRE Campus.

  • Is the Admissions process competitive?

    SPIRE evaluates each student individually to determine if they are a good fit. The admissions process includes submitting an official transcript, letters of recommendation from an English teacher, a math teacher, and a principal or coach; completing an interview with an admissions manager and a sports coach; and submitting a completed application.

    Each applicant is reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine if they meet SPIRE admissions requirements.

  • Does SPIRE Academy offer scholarships?

    SPIRE offers financial assistance for families who qualify. All families are reviewed on a case by case basis.  Families must complete the Clarity financial aid application. Please access through our admissions department.

  • Do you have any other question or need additional help with admissions?

    Please contact our Admissions Department at [email protected]

  • When is the deadline to apply?

    Application for 2026 – 2027 will open in August of 2025. SPIRE works on rolling admission for the 2025-2026 school year, however, dorm and team roster availability may be limited. 

  • Would participation in a post grad year affect my four-year NCAA eligibility?

    No, a post graduate year does not affect NCAA eligibility.

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