The Geneseo Middle School coaching staff has many years of experience with track and field and cross country. The middle school track and field program joined the IESA in 2008-2009 and has had many great accomplishments. Here are just a few (Coaches Bio’s can be found after the accomplishments):
2023 Class 4A State Fourth Place – 8th Grade Boys Track and Field
2022 Class 4A State Runner-Up – 7th Grade Boys Track and Field
2019 Class AA State Champions – 8th Grade Girls Track and Field
2018 Class AA State Champions – 7th Grade Girls Track and Field
2017 Class AA State Runner-Up – 8th Grade Girls Track and Field
2014 Class 3A State 4th Place – Boys Cross Country
2014 Class AA State Runner-Up – 8th Grade Boys Track and Field
2014 Class AA State 3rd Place – 7th Grade Boys Track and Field
2013 Class AA State Runner-Up – 7th Grade Boys Track and Field
2012 Class 2A IESA State Champions – Boys Cross Country
11 IESA State Individual Champions:
- 2023 7th Grade Boys Shot Put – Class 4A
- 2022 8th Grade Girls Pole Vault – Class 4A
- 2022 7th Grade Boys Pole Vault – Class 4A
- 2022 7th Grade Boys 800 Meter Dash – Class 4A
- 2019 8th Grade Girls High Jump – Class AA
- 2019 8th Grade Girls Long Jump – Class AA
- 2018 7th Grade Girls High Jump – Class AA
- 2018 7th Grade Girls Long Jump – Class AA
- 2015 8th Grade Boys 110 Hurdles – Class AA
- 2014 8th Grade Boys 110 Hurdles – Class AA
- 2013 7th Grade Boys 110 Hurdles – Class AA
5 IESA State Relay Champion:
- 2022 7th Grade Girls 4 x 100 Meter Relay – Class 4A
- 2019 8th Grade Girls 4 x 400 Meter Relay – Class AA
- 2018 7th Grade Girls 4 x 100 Meter Relay – Class AA
- 2018 7th Grade Girls 4 x 400 Meter Relay – Class AA
- 2016 7th Grade Girls 4 x 400 Meter Relay – Class AA
1 IESA State Meet All Time Record –
- 2014 8th Grade Boys Class AA 110 Hurdles
6 IESA State Meet Class 4A Records –
- 2025 7th Grade Girls Pole Vault
- 2023 7th Grade Boys Shot Put
- 2022 8th Grade Girls Pole Vault
- 2022 7th Grade Boys Pole Vault
- 2022 7th Grade Boys 400 Meter Dash
- 2022 7th Grade Girls 4 x 100 Meter Relay
4 IESA State Meet Class AA Records –
- 2019 8th Grade Girls Long Jump
- 2019 8th Grade Girls High Jump
- 2018 7th Grade Girls 4 x 100 Meter Relay
- 2014 8th Grade Boys Class AA 110 Hurdles
9 IESA State Individual Medalists (6 top ten finishes) – Cross Country
- 2017 Top 7th Grade boy (9th Place)
- 2011 Top 8th Grade girl (2nd Place)
309 IESA State Medalists – Track and Field:
- 43 IESA State Relay Teams – Track and Field
- 89 IESA State Individual Medalists – Track and Field
4 Top Ten IESA State Team Finishes – Girls Cross Country
- 2015 – 5th Place (3A)
- 2013 – 7th Place (2A)
- 2012 – 9th Place (2A)
- 2011 – 8th Place (AA)
5 Top Ten IESA State Team Finishes – Boys Cross Country
- 2016 – 9th Place (3A)
- 2014 – 4th Place (3A)
- 2013 – 6th Place (2A)
- 2012 – State Champions (2A)
- 2008 – 9th Place (AA)
7 Top Ten IESA State Team Finishes – Girls Track and Field
- 2022 – 8th Place – 8th Grade Girls (4A)
- 2019 – State Champions – 8th Grade Girls (AA)
- 2018 – State Champions – 7th Grade Girls (AA)
- 2017 – 5th Place – 7th Grade Girls (AA)
- 2017 – 2nd Place – 8th Grade Girls (AA)
- 2016 – 5th Place – 7th Grade Girls (AA)
- 2014 – 10th Place – 7th Grade Girls (AA)
7 Top Ten IESA State Team Finishes – Boys Track and Field
- 2023 – 4th Place – 8th Grade Boys (4A)
- 2023 – 9th Place – 7th Grade Boys (4A)
- 2022 – 2nd Place – 7th Grade Boys (4A)
- 2015 – 6th Place – 8th Grade Boys (AA)
- 2014 – 3rd Place – 7th Grade Boys (AA)
- 2014 – 2nd Place – 8th Grade Boys (AA)
- 2013 – 2nd Place – 7th Grade Boys (AA)
Here are the coaches:
Todd Ehlert MSEd., CSCS, ATC, CAFS, 3DMAPS, USATF Level Two – Head Boys Coach – Sprints/Distance/Relays/Pole Vault
Coach Ehlert has been teaching physical education and health in the Geneseo School district for eighteen years. He is also the Geneseo High School head boys cross country coach. From 2008 – 2017, coach Ehlert was a Geneseo Middle School Cross Country Coach and from 2010 – 2017 he was the Director of athletics for cross country and track and field for the middle school.
Coach Ehlert is currently serves on the Illinois Education Schools Association (IESA) track and field advisory committee and he also serves on the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (ITCCCA) Board as the President of the organization and as the middle school representative. In 2020, Coach Ehlert was very fortunate and awarded the ITCCCA Distinguished Middle School Coach Award (Middle School Coaches Hall of Fame) for his work with middle school track and field and cross country.
In the summer of 2018 Coach Ehlert earned a Level Two Youth Specialization Coaching Certification through USA Track and Field (USATF). In the spring of 2016 he earned a certification in Movement Analysis Performance System (MAPS) from the the Gray Institute and during the summer of 2014 he earned his Certification in Applied Functional Science (CAFS) through the Gray Institute also.
Before coming to the Geneseo School district for teaching, Coach Ehlert worked for Hammond Henry Hospital (HHH) as the certified athletic trainer for the Geneseo School district for three years and he also worked as a strength and conditioning coach with a program called The Summit. He still works with the Summit programs today. During those three years at HHH, he earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) national board certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Before coming to Geneseo, Coach Ehlert taught physical education and health in Papillion, Nebraska at Papillion-LaVista High School and Papillion Junior High School for eight years. He was also the school districts certified athletic trainer and had other various duties including coaching track and field, and being in charge of concessions.
In 1996, coach Ehlert received a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Physical Educaiton, Health, and Athletic Administration from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. During his time at Northwest, he was an assistant track coach, in charge of the fitness center, and taught various Physical Education activity courses. Also during his time at Northwest, he earned his Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) national board certification from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
In 1993, Coach Ehlert received a Bachelor of Arts from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He earned a major in Physical Education and a collateral concentration in Athletic Training and a minor in Biology. During his time at Coe, he participated on the track and field team for four years where he was a four time NCAA conference champion, participated on the football team for two years, was a student athletic trainer for four years, and was the assistant track and field coach his fifth year.
Coach Ehlert is from Keokuk, Iowa and went to Keokuk Senior High School. While in high school he participated in football, basketball, and track. He was an all-stater in track and field and was named the school’s most valuable athlete his senior year. During the summer in high school and college he was a lifeguard and was a water safety instructor, teaching swimming lessons to the community.
Coach Ehlert is married (Rachel), has two children (Megan and Will), and has a petite miniature golden doodle (Dover). He spends his free time with his family, traveling, and participating in triathlons where he has earned USA Triathlon All-American honors four times.
Erin Gillespie – Head Girls Coach – Sprints / Distance / Jumps
This is Mrs. Gillespie’s tenth year teaching at Geneseo Middle School. She started out in 6th grade math and is now an 8th grade math teacher. She also coaches cross country in addition to track and field.
Before coming to GMS, Mrs. Gillespie taught 8th grade math for 8 years at Highland Middle School in Libertyville, Illinois. She coached cross county and track and field in Libertyville as well. Libertyville is in the northern Chicago suburbs, close to where Mrs. Gillespie grew up. Mrs. Gillespie is originally from Carol Stream, Illinois and went to high school at Glenbard North High School. In addition to four great years on the Panther Track and Field team, Mrs. Gillespie sang in the choir and served as her senior class President.
Mrs. Gillespie wasn’t always a teacher. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Psychology. She used that degree to get a job working as a commercial underwriter for JP Morgan Chase in Chicago.
After a few years in banking, Mrs. Gillespie decided to attend DePaul University in Chicago to get a Master’s degree in education. That led her to a temporary position in the Chicago Public Schools as a 7th grade math teacher, and her first classroom job!
Mrs. Gillespie is married and has two awesome sons, Gavin and Declan. She enjoys running, reading, traveling and cheering her sons on at their many sporting events. Mrs. Gillespie is a huge sports fan, and loves to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks!
Patrick Babcock – Assistant Coach – Throws
This is Mr. Babcock’s sixth year at Geneseo school district, and enters his third year as an assistant track coach. He is a special education teacher at the high school, and before coming to Geneseo was a physical education teacher for 9 years. In addition to middle school track, Mr. Babcock also coaches football, and wrestling at the high school.
Mr. Babcock graduated from the University of Illinois in the spring of 2004 where he was a 4 year starter on the football team, a two time all Big Ten selection on the offensive line, a Sporting News freshman All-American, and a starter on the 2001 Big Ten champion football team. While at the U of I he graduated with a degree in the area of sport management. While serving as a college football coach; he went back to school at Rockford University to become an educator.
Mr. Babcock is from Stillman Valley, Illinois where he was a three time all state football player on a state championship football team, a two time state wrestling champion at 275 pounds, and a two time medalist in the shot put. He currently holds the record at his high school with a toss of 60’ 2.25” as a senior.
Mr. Babcock has three children (Cyrus, Lincoln, and Emerson) and has been married to his wife, Angie, for 17 years.
Melanie Henderson – Assistant Coach – Horizontal Jumps
This is Mrs. Henderson’s second year of coaching track and field at the middle school. She coached two years at the high school level between. She has also attended many track meets watching her children compete. Mrs. Henderson is in her fifth year teaching sixth grade math at GMS, but before that she taught 10 years at Northside in fourth grade.
Mrs. Henderson is from Geneseo and graduated from Illinois State University with an elementary teaching degree and middle school endorsements in math, ELA, and social sciences. Go Redbirds! She received her National Board Certification in Middle Childhood Generalist and just recently maintained her certificate for another five years. She also earned her Learning Behavior Specialist 1 from Western Illinois University in May 2020, She received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics Education from the University of Texas at Arlington in August of 2021. She finished her Specialist in Education degree in Administration August of 2023.
Mrs. Henderson has been married to her husband for over 20 years and has five children Hayley (Trevor), Maddie, Lilly (Logan), Heath, and Faith. She also has three granddaughters, Lanie (4 years old), Blair (2 years old), Lettie (1 year old), and a fourth due in April.
In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family and be outside. The Hendersons are huge Hawkeye fans! She is excited to be part of the GMS track and field team!
Taylor Mathew – Assistant Coach -Hurdles
This is Mr. Mathew 13th year of teaching and coaching in Geneseo. He teaches 7th grade math and he coaches 8th grade football and track. Coach Mathew has coached 3 IESA state champions at GMS in the 110 Meter Hurdles. He graduated from Illinois State University in the spring of 2012 with a degree in Middle School Education with endorsements in math and social studies.
Mr. Mathew grew up in Walnut, Illinois and attended Bureau Valley High School. He played football, basketball and baseball.
Mr. Mathew has been married to his wife, Sam, for 10 years and has 4 children (Elliot, Luca, Cameron, and June). Mr. Mathew is a huge sports fan. His favorite teams are the Bears, Cubs, Northwestern Football, and Illinois Basketball.
Brad Monier – Assistant Coach – Throws
This is Coach Monier’s 16th year in the Geneseo School District. He teaches 6th grade Math. Mr. Monier is a High School Football coach, 7th Grade Boys Basketball, and 7th Grade Girls Basketball coach in addition to Middle School Track and Field.
Mr. Monier graduated from Augustana College in the spring of 2009. His major was elementary education with a middle school math endorsement. Along with his studies, he was also a four-year starter and two-time conference champion on the Augustana Viking football team. He was named Most Valuable Freshmen, a 2nd team all-conference defensive back, and was selected a team captain as a junior and senior.
Mr. Monier is from Walnut, Illinois, and went to Bureau Valley High School. Mr. Monier quarterbacked a 2nd place state football team and was an all-conference basketball player. He also participated in track and baseball in different years.
Coach Monier has three step-daughters (Shelby (Clary) Johnson, Dani (Clary) Lauritzen and Sidney Clary). His wife, Tami, is also a teacher in the district. He enjoys watching and playing sports outside of his teaching and coaching.
Go Illini! Go Bears! Go Cubs! Go Bulls!
Deb Wagner – Assistant Coach – High Jump
This is Mrs. Wagner’s 24th year teaching 6th grade at GMS and her 11th year coaching track. She began her teaching career in Canton, Missouri teaching 7th, 8th & 9th grade math and also was a cheerleading coach. Mrs. Wagner left teaching when she started her family, spent 10+ years in transportation / logistics, then returned to education when she began teaching in the Geneseo School District in 2001.
Mrs. Wagner attended West Branch High School her freshman and sophomore years then moved to Lone Tree, Iowa for her final two years of high school. She was an all-conference basketball player and participated in track all four years of high school. Mrs. Wagner earned her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!!) and her Master of Science in Education degree from Western Illinois University.
Mrs. Wagner has been married to her husband John for over 40 years (!) and has two children, Jeff who lives in Denver, CO and Jordan who lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and two children. In her spare time Mrs. Wagner enjoys spending time with family, especially visiting her two grandchildren in Dallas. She also enjoys traveling and attending sporting events including basketball, football, and baseball games. Go Hawks! Go Fever! Go Orioles! Mrs. Wagner has been fortunate to attend two NCAA track and field championship meets at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon where she was able to watch a Geneseo graduate (and previous middle school track athlete!) compete for the University of Iowa.
Jay Wilson – Assistant Coach – Pole Vault