Neither Collin Geise nor Troy Raup received the ultimate prize of a PIAA title last spring, but the Danville throwers are much more confident about their prospects after strong junior seasons.
Geise and Raup both finished top three in the state in their respective events as they continue Danville’s throwing tradition as the 2026 track and field season commences.
Geise took the home the silver medal in the javelin while Raup finished third in the discus during last season’s PIAA Class 2A championships. Geise’s best throw of the state meet traveled 187 feet, 9 inches, less than 2 feet behind Corry’s Nolan Carey (189-5).
Geise is seeking to become Danville’s fourth state champion in the javelin. He’s hoping to join Chad Foster (1992), Travis Miller (2006) and Bronson Krainak (2024).
“It gave me so much confidence because going into the meet that wasn’t even my goal,” Geise said. “I didn’t think I was even capable of doing that, seeing the numbers that the guys in front of me were putting up. I was ranked, I think, seventh or eighth out of everybody going into it. Finishing second really just proved to me that anything can happen on any given day. So it got me really excited for the season to start and really gave me a lot of motivation too for my training this offseason.”
Geise didn’t pick up a javelin until he was a freshman as he grew up playing baseball. Coach Jon Vella knew Geise had a strong right arm, so Geise decided to try it out one day at practice and immediately fell in love with it.
Geise was teammates with Krainak during his first two seasons. Krainak has been instrumental to Geise’s development as Krainak often helped Geise during practice. The two still keep up to this day as Geise sends Krainak videos of his throws, and Krainak gives him tips. Krainak currently throws at Wichita State.
“I came out for one practice, threw it one time, and I just had so much fun,” Geise said. “It didn’t go well — I did not throw far at all. But I just fell in love with it. It’s taken me all the way to this level, and I couldn’t me more thankful for (Vella) constantly begging me to come out for the team.”
Raup hurled the discus 165 feet, six inches for the bronze. Raup, who had his best toss on his third attempt, was sitting in second place until Alex Polenik earned a 166-1 on his last throw. Palmerton’s Ryan Burkett won the state title with a 177-10.
Combined with Gavin Holcombe’s gold medal in the pole vault, Geise and Raup helped Danville finished tied for fifth place in the PIAA team standings.
“I think it’s giving me a lot of confidence going into the season because if you can do it once, you can do it again,” Raup said. “Being able to go in and experience states last year was amazing. It was a very, very big confidence booster going into the season knowing that I made it to states and knowing that I’ll make it again this year.”
Raup broke the Danville school record in the discus with a 163-2 in a meet with Central Columbia last season. He then threw 169-9 at the Heartland Athletic Conference meet and 166-5 at the District 4 meet before the 165-6 at states. Raup’s mark at leagues set a new HAC meet record.
Raup strained his right pectoral muscle last season, so he wasn’t able to throw the shot put in the postseason. But he’s healed up from the injury, so he’ll throw both shot put and discus this spring.
“I had that goal set ever since freshman year,” Raup said. “Being able to break that was very rewarding to me. And I was just grateful that I could break it with friends and family.
“I’m excited to throw shot put again this season. Hopefully (I can) break that school record too.”
Both Geise and Raup will be competing at the Division I level next season — Geise is committed to Monmouth while Raup signed with Duquesne.
“I’m really looking forward to (the season),” Geise said. “A lot of preparation has been going into it. After last year falling short of the state championship only by a few feet, this year it’s definitely my goal to be number one on the podium and keep improving.”
“I’m extremely excited for senior season to come,” Raup added. “I’m just ready to show everybody around here what I’m made of in shot and discus.”
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