Injured senior Geishauser gets her moment
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
HERSHEY -- The loudest roars from a crowd listed at 950 people Friday afternoon during Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic's 35-17 win over Mountain View in the PIAA Class 1A girls basketball championship game at the Giant Center came when the Lady Marauders' lone senior, Sarah Geishauser, checked in and out of the game.
Geishauser had not dressed for a single basketball game this season after suffering an injury on Nov. 14, 2023 in the PIAA Class 1A soccer semifinals, the deepest run the Lady Marauders have ever made in that sport.
"When it happened, I didn't think it was extreme as it ended up being," Geishauser said. "But when I got my diagnosis, no, I did not think I would ever play basketball again. They said it was my hamstring at first, but I tore my ACL and my meniscus."
Geishauser was one of the team leaders and top scorers a year ago and helped the Lady Marauders reach the District 6 championship game and win a state playoff game a year after they had been eliminated in the first round of the district playoffs.
She was expected to help lead an extremely young BG team, especially as it got its feet wet with its first varsity action in December.
"They are all young," Geishauser said. "I wanted to let them know this is their court and not to let anyone take it from them."
Instead of making her impact on the court, Geishauser did it sitting next to the coaching staff on the sideline.
"Sarah has been such a part of our team," BG sophomore Gia Adams said. "Even though she didn't play this year, she was at everything and was always cheering us on. She's been amazing."
Geishauser, who was one of four freshmen on Bishop Guilfoyle in 2021 when the Lady Marauders last won a state title and the only one remaining from her class on the team, did her best to pass along her experience.
"It was disappointing, but I was able to give advice on what I would do in certain situations throughout the season," Geishauser said.
The path toward a return wasn't an easy one. But with 1:13 to play in the first half of Friday's state championship game, Geishauser checked in for the first time in her senior season.
"I had to go to therapy the day after surgery, so that pretty much explains how hard it was and how much work I had to put in," Geishauser said. "It was worth it. I don't even have words to describe how great it felt to step on the court. I couldn't even wipe the smile off my face when I shot an air ball."
Geishauser didn't make any of her four shots but was credited with a block and a rebound in just more than four minutes of game action.
"We were trying to get her the ball every possession," Adams said. "I'm so happy she was on the court with us."
The Bishop Guilfoyle student section began to chant her name with 5:07 to play during a timeout, and Geishauser came back into the game with 3:53 remaining. She checked out as a two-time state champion with just more than a minute left so that a group of freshmen could play the final minute, just like she did in the state final four years ago.
"This feels a lot more real," Geishauser said. "Obviously because of COVID back then, it was a lot different. This experience has been a lot more fun."
Geishauser served as a team captain along with junior Riley Gofus on Friday, and despite not making any shots, she left her coach in awe.
"On Wednesday, she got limited clearance from her surgeon," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Kristi Kaack said. "She has been rehabbing like crazy, and she just ran a mile in 8 minutes and 45 seconds the other day. I told her she's not a real human. She's just incredible. To be able to put her on the floor today and be able to get her a couple minutes meant a whole lot to everybody in our program."