Track and Field
Geneva High School Class of 1983
The all-time scoring champion in track and field at Geneva High, Hank has continued in excellence in the Masters Division. A five-year letter winner in track and field Hank was a member of three sectional championship teams and two league championship teams. He served as captain his junior and senior years. He was a sectional champion in the 400 relay and finished second in the triple jump and 200m dash. Hank competed in eleven different events over his career and captured league titles in the triple jump, 100m and 400 relay. He won the Ottley Award as the team MVP his senior year and was named the most versatile athlete as a junior. Hank was also a two-year letter winner in basketball and football.
In the Masters Division age group Hank has competed at the Empire States Games capturing gold medals in the javelin four times as well as once in the shot put. He won silver medals in the shot put three times and once in the javelin as well as two bronze medals in the shot put. Hank has also won gold medals at the USA Track and Field Regional in Buffalo in the shot put, 100m and the javelin. In 2011 he competed in the State Games of America in San Diego capturing the gold medal in the javelin. He also won a silver medal in the javelin when they were held in Colorado Springs in 2009.
Hank has served as an assistant track coach at Geneva and Waterloo high schools and as an assistant basketball coach at Waterloo. He is a lifetime Geneva resident, an accomplished musician and works as a recreational therapist at the VA in Canandaigua. His high school track and field coach Mike Canale had this to say, “Hank Pearson was a leader, a true gentleman, an ambassador for Geneva and GHS, who loved track and field. He was respected and well-liked by teammates, opponents and officials. He is one of the finest individuals I have ever had the honor to coach."