SPIRE Institute and Academy

Spire Institute and Academy is a preparatory boarding school and sports training destination in Harpersfield Township, Ohio, United States,[1] near Geneva. There are plans to add a new training hub called SPIRE East in Middle River, Maryland.[2] The sports academy offers a professional preparatory experience for the sports of basketball, swimming and track and field. In addition to the academy, SPIRE offers camp programs for a wide variety of sports including soccer, football, esports and drones. Their facilities have been used for championship conferences and as training centers for Olympic athletes.[3][4] SPIRE produced and worked with athletes such as LaMelo Ball, Ryan Lochte, and Tim Mack.

Spire Institute and Academy
Private boarding school
IndustryBoarding school, camp, sports camps, adult & family programs, team training, professional & collegiate training
Founded2009
Headquarters5201 SPIRE Circle
Geneva, Ohio, U.S. 44041
Websitewww.spireinstitute.org

History

SPIRE Institute and Academy first opened in 2009 as the GaREAT Sports Complex. At this time there was one building featured a synthetic turf field used for multiple sports including soccer, football and more.[5][6]

In January 2010, the track and field complex was opened for athletes. A second outdoor track and field and outdoor sports complex opened in 2012.

On February 23, 2013, SPIRE was declared an Olympic and Paralympic training site by Alicia McConnell, director of training sites and community partnerships for the U.S. Olympic Committee.[7][8]

In February 2014, SPIRE became the designated training site for USA Wrestling, the United States Olympic team. [9][10]

In January 2020, SPIRE was sold to Axxella, a company affiliated with Blue Ocean Realty.[11] There are plans to expand their current programs and offerings.[12]

Programs

Basketball

Coached by Gravelle Craig and Dawud Abdur-Rahkman, the basketball program is open to high school, gap year, and post graduate students.[13] Gravelle Craig previously coached at Bethune-Cookman where the team went 74-123 (46-50 MEAC) in his six seasons.[14][15]

Its basketball alumni include LaMelo Ball who has gone on to play in the National Basketball League[16][17] and Rocket Watts. Rocket has since been recruited by Michigan State and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.[18] Another alum is Robert Bobroczkyi, who stands 7 feet 7 inches, who is still with the program but has been recovering from a recent surgery.[19][20]

Swimming

SPIRE Institute is an Official FINA Training Centre, one of the only ones in North America.[21] The swimming academy is offered to high school, gap year and post graduate athletes. [22]

In February 2020, Ryan Lochte signed on as an international swimming ambassador for the camps, events and programs at SPIRE Institute and Academy.[23] He will be engaging with students, conducting clinics and helping design the swimming program.[24]

Track and Field

The track and filed academy is offered to high school, gap year and post graduate athletes. The facility has hosted the Big Ten Conference for over six years in a row and was set to hold the 2020 conference. [25]

In April 2020, it was announced that Tim Mack would be joining SPIRE as their field training and development director.[26] Prior to joining SPIRE, Tim Mack won many awards including an Olympic gold medal while setting a new pole vaulting record of 5.95 meters and has joined the "6 meters club" by finishing first at the 2nd IAAF World Athletics Final.[27][28][29]

In May 2020, Andrew Liskowitz, a SPIRE athlete, won the shot put title at the Big Ten Championships with the nation’s best mark (and a SPIRE Institute record) of 21.02 meters. [30]

Camps

SPIRE offers year round camps in multiple sports including esports, drone racing, football, soccer and more.[31]

Future Sports

One aspect of their Future Sports program is drone racing.[32] In June of 2020, it was announced that world-ranked drone racing champion Ian Hemphill is going to teach their drone racing bootcamp.[33] Ian is also a member of the Drone Racing League.

Notable alumni and athletes

References
  1. Harpersfield Township, Ohio (2018-08-16). Official Zoning Map (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 2020-05-08. Recreation Athletic Development District.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Journal, Baltimore Business (2020-02-18). "Sports training hub planned for Middle River's Aviation Station". WBAL. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  3. "SPIRE Institute designated U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site". SwimSwam. 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. Warsinskey, Tim; Editor; Dealer, The Plain (2013-02-22). "Spire Institute in Geneva chosen to be independent U.S. Olympic training site, sources tell The Plain Dealer". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-04-28.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. "History | SPIRE Institute". www.spireinstitute.org. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  6. Cook, Bob. "Cleveland Area Pins Its Economic Hopes on Youth Sports Complex". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  7. Beacon, WARREN DILLAWAY-warren@starbeacon comStar. "Spire Institute named Olympic, Paralympic training site". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  8. "SPIRE Institute named Olympic training site". wkyc.com. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  9. Cipriano, Guy. "SPIRE Institute in Geneva designated USA Wrestling training site". The News-Herald. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  10. "SPIRE Institute". Team USA. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  11. Gewirtz, Jason (2019-12-09). "Spire Institute Sold to New Owner". SportsTravel. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  12. "Axxela, LLC Buys Spire Institute with Plans to Expand Swimming Programs". SwimSwam. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  13. "SPIRE Institute (Geneva, OH) Basketball | MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  14. "Bethune-Cookman to let Craig's contract lapse". ESPN.com. 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  15. "Gravelle Craig Archives". CollegeBasketballTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  16. McCann, Michael. "LaMelo Ball's Purchase of NBL Team May Inspire Young Peers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  17. "LaMelo Ball and SPIRE Institute lost to Prolific Prep by 35". USA TODAY High School Sports. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  18. "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  19. Schonbrun, Zach (2018-01-26). "A Teenager's Basketball Dream Is Size XXXXXL". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  20. Jones, Kaelen. "Meet LaMelo's new teammate: 7'7" teen Robert Bobroczkyi". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  21. "SPIRE Institute". Team USA. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  22. "2019 Futures Championships Geneva Day 2: Current College Swimmers Win Events". Swimming World News. 2019-08-03. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  23. GmbH, finanzen net. "SPIRE IA (Institute/Academy) in Geneva, OH Signs 12-time Olympic Medalist Ryan Lochte as International Swim Ambassador | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  24. "The Soak: Duncan Scott Fires Warning Shot With 48.53 In 100m Free At BUCS Nationals". Swimming World News. 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  25. "Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships to Return to SPIRE Institute in 2020". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  26. "Tim Mack Motivational Speaker | Personal Development Speaker | Northeast Ohio". timmack.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  27. "Patience pays off for Tim Mack | News". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  28. Robbins, Liz (2004-08-28). "SUMMER 2004 GAMES -- TRACK AND FIELD: POLE VAULT; With Verve, Two U.S. Men Go the Highest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  29. "Olympic Pole Vaulting History". VAULTER Magazine. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  30. "Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska Earn Big Ten Men's Indoor Track & Field Postseason Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  31. "Baltimore investment firm acquires massive Spire Institute in Geneva". Crain's Cleveland Business. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  32. "Ian Hemphill to Teach SPIRE IA's Drone Boot Camp". UAV Expert News. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  33. "World-Ranked Drone Racing Champion Ian Hemphill to Teach SPIRE IA's Drone Boot Camp". UASweekly.com. 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  34. "LaMelo Ball to enroll, play at Ohio high school". ESPN.com. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  35. Singelais, Mark (May 11, 2018). "Jalen Pickett couldn't wait to join Siena basketball". Times Union. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  36. "Olympics Rio 2016: Greece's Ekaterini Stefanidi wins women's pole vault". Eurosport. 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  37. "Namibian National Record Holder Xander Skinner Signs with McKendree University". Swimming World News. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  38. "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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