GENEVA — Entering his fifth year leading the Geneva football program, Don Shymske finds himself in a little different predicament heading into the 2026 season.
The winner of 37 games in his first four seasons, with playoff appearances in each, Shymske enters this year’s campaign with a lot more question marks than he has had at any time during his coaching tenure.
“We had a lot of familiar faces who have seen the field,” Shymske, the reigning Ashtabula County Coach of the Year, said referring to his teams in the past. “We had a lot of continuity in that regard. We lost a lot of that, and that is the nature of the game in high school football.”
Gone from last season’s 9-3 team that made it to the second round of the Division III, Region 9 playoffs are key players — practically all of them saw the field. The most notable one are Ashtabula County Player of the Year Bryce Peet, county scoring leader Caden Proy and two-way standout Ricky DiPetta. The three combined for nearly 2,500 yards rushing and 55 total touchdowns.
“We have to try and replace what we lost,” Shymske said.
While Shymske is trying to figure out the puzzle of how his 2026 Eagles will look, he is starting with what he knows and building off of that.
First, the successful formula for Geneva football will remain.
“We just are going to continue what we’ve done,” Shymske said, referring to his predominately run-oriented Wing-T offense and physical defensive philosophy. “The schemes aren’t changing. It is just trying to coach those [new] guys up and get them up to speed.”
While there are five starters returning, that group has a couple of pillars to build around in senior linemen Jacob Clemens and Braden Stark.
Clemens, a three-year starter, anchors the offensive line at tackle.
On defense, the 5’11”, 270-pound tackle recorded 66 tackles, including eight for loss and four sacks a year ago. He led the team with 13 quarterback hurries.
Shymske said Clemens broke the school’s weight lifting total this offseason and took on more of leadership role heading into his final season.
“He was the [Ashtabula] County Lineman of the Year last year, and he definitely didn’t rest on his laurels,” the coach said.
Stark returns as one of the offensive guards as well, registering 34 tackles, which included 3.5 sacks in 2025. The 6’2”, 210 pounder also had a great offseason in the weight room.
“Strength is definitely there for both of them,” Shymske said. “We’ve had plenty of guys who were strong but couldn’t move. Both of those guys are very agile. Jacob is really light on his feet. Braden definitely has very good speed for a guy who is going to play offensive and defensive line for us.”
Heading into the preseason, Shymske said the defensive side is where he feels a little more settled at this point in terms of who will play where.
Senior linebackers Owen Davis (62 tackles) and Brody Hamm (56 tackles) are returning starters, while classmate Nate Hutchens (26 tackles) saw a lot of action in the defensive backfield last season.
A pair of juniors — inside linebacker Gavin Queen (26 tackles) and safety Cooper Dubsky (23 tackles) — both saw ample time on the defensive side of the ball last season.
“They each filled in and started a couple games for us when we had some guys hurt, and both did a nice job,” Shymske said.
Another strength is the return of kicker Zachary McKinney, who decided to not play soccer and focus on football this fall.
McKinney booted 61 extra points last year and frequently pinned opponents deep on kickoffs. The strong-legged junior attempted just two field goals last season, but with Geneva’s inexperience on offense this year, he may be called on more often to put up points for the Eagles.
“He’s got a really strong leg and that can be a weapon for us,” Shymske said. “He’s also getting reps at halfback and as an outside linebacker. I’d expect him to probably see the field somewhere.”
Shymske said he and his staff are focused on just getting better each day. A winning season and return to the playoffs is certainly the goal, and he hopes the winning habits developed the last several years continues with this team.
“The success that we’ve had, that’s all in the past,” he said. “This is a new season and the expectations are the same. We have to make sure this group of kids tries to meet those expectations.
“There are going to be a lot of new players, and they are going to have to write their own chapter in the book of Geneva football.”