GENEVA — Butler High School and Geneva College seem to share a bond.

They have the same nickname: Golden Tornado.

Numerous Butler athletes — Ed Hartman, Jamie Smith, Erin Ward, Matt and Anthony Savannah among them — have gone on to stellar athletic careers at Geneva.

Quite a connection, indeed.

Now Jake Olenick is adding to it.

The 2013 Butler graduate is a sophomore wide receiver at Geneva and has 11 catches through the football team's first four games.

“He's settled into that role rather quickly,” Geneva coach Geno DeMarco said. “We had Jake playing defense when he first got here.

“We developed a need at receiver and he's really filled it.”

Olenick was a versatile offensive player for Butler his senior season and played a key role in helping the Tornado reach the WPIAL playoffs for the only time in the last 18 years. He rushed for 450 yards — averaging six yards per carry — and scored five touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 117 yards and a score.

DeMarco and his staff recruited Olenick out of high school — but he opted for Gannon as an invited walk-on.

“They wanted me as a receiver and I was enjoying my time with the team,” Olenick said of Gannon. “But I changed my major a couple of times and, ultimately, they didn't have what I wanted.”

And Geneva did.

“They told me if things didn't work out at Gannon and I changed my mind, to call them. I did that and everything worked out,” Olenick said.

Now he's majoring in entrepreneur management and carrying a 3.8 grade point average. Olenick is also involved in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes program.

“He sets a great example there,” DeMarco said. “Jake is the total package. We have a long history of success with Butler kids and he's become a part of that.”

Olenick saw some action at strong safety as a red-shirt freshman at Geneva. He was red-shirted during his one year at Gannon. Last spring is when the Golden Tornadoes moved him back to receiver.

It doesn't hurt that Olenick has developed a solid rapport with Geneva quartterback Aaron Channing. Like Olenick, he's a sophomore.

Also like Olenick, Channing is a transfer from a Division II PSAC program. He came from Kutztown University.

“We came here from similar situations, we're both business majors, so we spend a lot of time together,” Olenick said. “Aaron's become one of my best friends.”

Olenick is one of only a handful of players from that 2012 Butler playoff team still playing football. Bob Vernick is at Slippery Rock, Jordan Cratty at Clarion, Jake Alston at Mount Union.

“I feel like we cultivated something at Butler and my goal is to be part of the same type of thing here,”Olenick said. “Moreso than any personal accomplishments, I want to leave something behind.

“Geneva football has been sort of up and down. We want to help the program become more consistent. I'd love to become a leader here in that regard.”

While 11 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown — Olenick's stats through four games for the Golden Tornadoes (2-2) — don't seem like much, they may only be scratching the surface.

“Jake is going to put up some numbers here,” DeMarco said. “He's playing our slot position and he's got good speed. He knows how to block and runs good routes.

“He was a utility player in high school and we can use all of his skills as our slot receiver.”

None of that skill-set is DeMarco's favorite attribute when it comes to Jake Olenick.

“The best thing about him is his attitude,” the coach said. “He's a throw-back kid. He practices as hard as he plays.

“Gather up a boat-load of those guys and you can win a lot of football games.”