Noah Geiser will never shy away from a challenge.

The Jim Thorpe senior embraces each opportunity, whether it’s with the school’s soccer team or its football program.

Or the chance to play abroad and test his abilities in Europe.

Geiser spent two weeks in France late this past summer to play soccer for a preseason trial, an opening he hopes will improve his prospects of playing at the next level after high school.

“It was pretty surreal,” said Geiser. “It was definitely an experience. I learned a lot. And I felt like I came back a lot better. I learned a lot. I think I’m still kind of processing it a little, it was a big change. But it was a pretty good experience.”

Geiser, who is a captain for the boys soccer team and also kicks for the football program, made the most of the opportunity to not only compete, but also welcome something different.

“There was about 10, 11 of us. Myself, a kid from Michigan, Georgia, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast, just kids who have some similar aspirations, and that the coach felt were just skilled enough to make it,” said Geiser. “We stayed in a town south of Montpellier, like right on the coast. Beautiful town. And we went around playing on the teams from like different levels, like in that area.

“It was just kind of like an opportunity to just get an experience at that higher level, get looked at by coaches, to just learn the other side of the game. It’s way different there. It’s a higher pace. It’s more competitive. It’s a lot different. It’s definitely a learning experience.”

Geiser has gained plenty of experience playing for the Olympians. He was a First Team Schuylkill League Division I All-Star last season, and has helped the team win six consecutive matches to improve to 7-3, including a 9-3 victory over Northern Lehigh on Wednesday where he scored three goals.

“I’ve coached him and both of his older brothers, and it’s been neat because I’ve known him since he’s real young. I coached him you know before he was in high school, so that’s been kind of neat,” said Jim Thorpe boys soccer coach Michael Dudak. “And he’s just developed by watching his older brothers play, and he’s been around the programs for a long time, and he just keeps growing, no matter what he does.

“He’s not a selfish player. There are a lot of times when we’re playing he’ll come over to me on the sideline, and if he’s got an idea on what to change or do, or if we should we do this or should we do that kind of thing, which is not something you often see from a high school level player, where they’re trying to read the game that much. He’s probably, in the eight or nine years I’ve been at Jim Thorpe, he’s probably the best one at doing that piece of it.”

One of Noah’s older brothers, Jacob, signed to play professionally in Romania in 2023. His other brother, Cody, also played in high school, while his dad, Chris is currently the Jim Thorpe girls soccer coach and was an assistant with the boys team.

“They taught me pretty much everything I know,” said Noah. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today, so you know all the most of the credit goes to them. They pushed me to become a better player. My dad is knowledgeable in the sport, and he’s always helping me out and making sure I’m good. My family’s super supportive of me. I’m super thankful for that, and I don’t know what I would do without them.”

Noah has balanced playing soccer at an elite level with being the kicker for the football team, something both programs work to accommodate.

“This is his second year with us, but we’ve had kickers, I’d say probably maybe seven or eight years we’ve been sharing soccer players as kickers,” said Olympians’ football coach Mark Rosenberger. “Coach Dudak and I work very well together. We both tailor our practices a little bit so the kids can get to each one of us on a daily basis when there’s not a competition or a game.

“Noah in particular, many of the soccer kids that have been kicking for us have very explosive legs and help our defense out tremendously with the touchbacks and field position game. So his ability to kick the ball to the end zone and kick off is tremendous and it’s a huge help for a defensive team.”

Rosenberger praised Geiser’s ability - and commitment - both on and off the field.

“Him playing two sports in the fall, it’s surely not easy,” said the coach. “It takes a lot of time management and dedication to athletics to be able to pull it off. But Noah does a great job. He spends his time wisely, with both programs and with his schoolwork and so forth. So we’re just very thankful to have him. He’s a great kid. Above all, he’s just been an outstanding young man. We enjoy just having him around.

“And he’s an outstanding kicker. He’s got a leg that’s probably close to 45 to 50 yards with field goals. So that’s a weapon. He’s truly a weapon that we have with our team, with special teams. And flipping the field and stuff that he’s able to do with his leg.”

While Geiser’s passion - and priority - is soccer, he enjoys the camaraderie and chance to contribute to the football team.

“It’s a little different between kicking a football and kicking a soccer ball, but I kind of got the hang of that,” Geiser said. “But I really enjoy kicking and being around the team, the sport’s really fun. The team’s really fun to be around and, there are amazing coaches from football and soccer here, so, they make it a good time. They’re always there for me for whatever I need, whether it’s for football or just in life, It’s different, but I enjoy the change of pace.”

Geiser will enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to compete for both teams this fall, something he won’t take for granted.

“It just makes me want to become better, just being around my friends here compared to not really knowing anybody over there,” said Geiser. “I want to provide for the team. I’m gonna be the best player I can. I’m going to teach them what I learned as well, and I just want to be a role model here, being the captain of the team and teach the younger players just kind of what it takes, and just having a different mindset on different things. It helps me to strive to be better.”

Geiser is already pretty good. The challenge to be even greater is one he’s more than willing to take on.