Senior,  Gerele Pano was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. He was born on April 14, 2008. He attended two schools before joining the Kearsley district in 4th grade. To explain Gerele in one word, it would be outgoing. Pano will do anything for his friends and family, and sometimes he is very loud and talkative when he is comfortable. He will talk to new people and make friends with strangers. Pano is one of the friendliest, kindest, and most loving people you will meet in Kearsley High School. He is an outstanding student and athlete. 

Pano is very tall, 6’1. He takes his height in stride and uses it to do the best of his ability in all of the sports he has played throughout high school. He has played many sports including football, basketball, and even baseball for one season.

Pano has two older brothers, who are in healthcare and he truly admires them. “They set the path that I want to follow,” Pano says. 

Pano is extremely well liked at Kearsley. When you walk the halls of this school and you hear the name Gerele Pano, it is always good things you hear, and everyone knows who he is here at Kearsley. He has made an impact on this school and a lot of people in it. Pano is extremely passionate about his family, success, and football. 

Pano says that the things that keep him motivated are “my brothers, my mom and dad, my coaches, and my friends. Another thing that keeps me motivated is the need for success. I love football because it has always been my first love, since I laid eyes on a ball when I was younger I also love the physical contact aspect of the sport, and I feel like I’m very good at it.” 

Pano has played Varsity Football all four years of high school. Pano has been very involved in things to do with the Kearsley community since entering high school. Most prominently, he helps little kids who want to learn to play football and attends many football-related events. 

In the Kearsley district, you need service hours to graduate. For Pano’s, he helped move tables and chairs at Fiedler Elementary and Armstrong Middle School.

“It felt good to help people who needed a little bit of help, and I got great laughs in with my teammates,” Pano said. 

Pano started playing basketball when he was just 4 years old. He started playing for the Kearsley basketball team in 4th grade, and he continued to play until his senior year. Pano has played all four years in high school. 

He was asked why he likes to play basketball and he said, “I like it because my brother played it, and taught me most things I know about it.”  Gerele is really good at this sport; he has a high passion for it.

He plans to use the skills he learned from football and basketball in his future career as a physical therapist.

“When I was applying to colleges in October, I applied to Lansing Community College, and I got accepted,” Pano said. “I got into other schools as well, but I plan on going to Lansing. I got accepted into the physical therapist part of the school. Then, after 2 years, I plan to transfer to MSU to get more of an education on it, and then I plan on playing football. To keep getting better at football while I’m not playing for 2 years, I plan on training almost every week, and going to the gym to keep it up.” 

As Pano continues to develop his career outside of high school, he leads his endeavors with passion, care, and a love for his family.