Big Walnut Star Hops Car, Flies High

CENTRAL OHIO—One local high school athlete has overcome some tough odds, learning to soar in both the long jump pit and the classroom.

NBC 4 Sports’ Jerod Smalley shared the local athlete’s triumphant story.       

Eugene Cannaday, best known to his friends as Geno, has been on the move all of his life.

Cannaday attended 13 different schools over the past 12 years, moving throughout Columbus with his mom and little brother.

“Every time I would get used to a class or seeing the same people everyday, it would be, ‘Oops, you’re going to a different school now,‘ ” Cannaday said.

That was the case until Cannaday’s summer basketball teammate Colton Griffis and his family stepped in, refusing to see Cannaday’s potential wasted.

“Our family just decided to actually go through with it and get him out of there,“ Griffis said. “We just thought it was the right thing to do.“

Cannaday moved in with the Griffis family in Sunbury last year and introduced himself to the students at Big Walnut High School through his jumping skills.

“I had to do something here to get everybody’s attention,“ Cannaday said. “So I said, ‘I bet I can jump over that car.‘ And I did.“

Cannaday became a leader on the Big Walnut basketball and track and field teams, while rapidly improving in school, Smalley reported.

“I came here, and it was just like, bam!“ Cannaday said. “I just changed real fast.“

Cannaday consistently jumped more than 23 feet in the long jump this season—this year’s best distance in Central Ohio.

Griffis will head to Marshall next year on a full football scholarship, while his new brother will also head to college to continue his athletic and academic careers.

“If you ask anyone around here, we act just like brothers,“ Griffis said.

“Yeah, we’ll definitely stay connected,“ Cannaday said. “That’s family forever right there.“

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