Q-and-A with Dan O’Leary, Wilmington basketball
November 27, 2012 10:46PM
Dan O'Leary, Wilmington basketball. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
high school
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Updated: December 29, 2012 6:22AM
O’Leary, a senior, is a shooting guard at Wilmington and, like a lot of other athletes at the school of 459 students, plays two sports. O’Leary, a Wilmington native, just finished a stint on the football team, on which he was a tight end/safety. He helped the Wildcats advance to the quarterfinals of the Clas 3A state playoffs. On the court, O’Leary also made the all-tournament team at the Dwight Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. The Wildcats lost to Ridgeview in the championship game.
How old were you when you started playing basketball?
Fifth grade. I just loved watching it.
When you go to college, are you going to have to pick one sport or the other?
No, I’m pretty much decided on basketball. I don’t know where I’m going to go to college yet, though.
When did you decide you had a future in the sport?
Freshman year, I just kind of felt it.
What’s it like to balance playing more than one sport?
It’s kind of easy, actually, and it’s not really difficult. It’s a small school, and you know everybody else and what not. We’re always together. It’s really easy.
Aside from basketball, do you have a favorite sport you watch on TV?
College football. I like Wisconsin. I like the state because I went up there once and I really liked it.
Do you have any hidden talent that people don’t know about?
I have no idea.
If you had the athletic ability to do anything, what would it be?
It would still be basketball.
As told to Tina Akouris
