ARCHBOLD It only seems as if Gene Goering has always played for Archbold s football and basketball teams.
The truth is the junior is in his third season with the Blue Streaks varsity in both sports. The bad news for opponents is that Goering is in his second year playing a pivotal role in his school s success in both sports.
Perhaps the biggest question left to answer about Goering is where will he rank among the top athletes in Archbold s history.
I suspect at this stage he s as good as any of them, said football coach John Downey, who has coached at Archbold for the last 28 seasons.
As a freshman, an injury resulted in Goering getting a start at quarterback in the final regular-season game. In basketball he became a starter for a team that eventually advanced to the Division III state semifinals.
Neither Downey nor basketball coach Doug Krauss was surprised by Goering s immediate contributions.
We could see he was going to be able to contribute, especially on the glass, Krauss said. He was a good enough scorer that he contributed nine points a game.
He s a mature kid, especially for a freshman, and he blended in so well. The older kids all liked him, but he didn t forget his other buddies [who were his age].
Downey took it a step further.
After his first game of his freshman year, we realized we had to do something to take advantage of his talents, Downey said. So I instructed our freshman coach to install the shotgun [offense] and start developing him as a runner and as a thrower and make him the focus of the offense.
As a sophomore he threw for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns before blossoming this past fall. Goering completed 178-of-316 passes for 2,119 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for 1,010 yards and 21 more scores to earn second team all-district honors in Division IV.
My freshman year, I didn t know what to expect, Goering said. It helped that I got to start the final game, because I learned how loud it was out there. I was nervous.
Last year was alright, but this year was way better. We got things rolling and we changed to the spread, and that s fun for me because I have the ball in my hands all the time. We have a lot of great receivers, and I love spreading it around.
In basketball, Goering earned a spot on the All-Northwest Ohio Athletic League team as a sophomore, leading the league with his average of 19.0 points per game while finishing third with 8.6 rebounds per contest. He helped the Blue Streaks make a return visit to the state semifinals last year.
He doesn t know what it s like to finish his season before the state tournament, Krauss said of Goering. I told him that I hope he never has to experience that.
This year his averages of 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds are again among the league s best.
[Playing as a freshman] was a good experience for me, Goering said. Jelling with those seniors was hard, because I didn t know them at first, but we came together as a team and made a great run.
As a freshman I played inside almost all the time. But I ve been working on my outside game, trying to expand out a little bit.
Both Downey and Krauss said Goering s athleticism has helped him excel in both sports.
One, Gene s big and strong, Downey said. He s got decent foot speed. And he s tough he brings a sense of toughness. And that s probably his biggest attribute.
Krauss agreed, adding, He brings it all to the table. He s a good leaper, and he s a quick leaper. He s got an explosive first step, and he s strong. He s so strong, when he s inside getting killed he still finishes the play and doesn t get a call. The average kid goes flying and gets a call.
Goering s career with the Blue Streaks will end eventually, and that raises two questions: Where will Goering attend college? And what sport will he play?
I don t really know where this is going to lead me, he said. Which sport? I don t know. I haven t been thinking about it; I ve been focused on what I ve got going right now.
Neither Krauss nor Downey knows what Goering will decide; both just are happy to be along for a ride.
He s going to have an interesting decision in a year and that s a nice problem to have, Krauss said.
First Published January 4, 2007, 12:05 p.m.
