Daniel Leahy didn’t let an early setback spoil the sport he loves.
The Camden Catholic High School senior’s introduction to football was slow but steady. He joined a team in sixth grade but didn’t start seeing real action for a couple of years.
“In my sixth- and seventh-grade years, I didn’t really get into the games,” Leahy admitted. “I still loved the sport though. I even wanted to play when I was little, but my mom was a little scared of the injuries – like most parents are. But I stuck with it, win, lose or draw.”
The Camden Catholic football team is glad he did. During the last four years, Leahy has blossomed into one of the most fearless players on both sides of the ball, delivering big, momentum-swinging hits.
“I try to give 100 percent at all times,” Leahy said. “I love playing physically, for sure.”
Leahy was named one of five captains of the football team this year, but he’s the only senior among the bunch. He’s joined by juniors Nymir Daily, Madden Rosario, Lars Stegner and Cole Trotz.
“I love being a captain,” Leahy said. “I was a captain for two years for lacrosse. I love taking a leadership role and pushing my guys to work as hard as they can.”
Leahy earned captain honors on the lacrosse field as a sophomore and carried that momentum into his junior year, where he scored 20 goals and 18 assists as the Irish went 9-7.
Camden Catholic has endured a rough start to the season on the gridiron with losses to Pennsauken and Neumann-Goretti of Philadelphia in the first two games. But a young team with just two seniors and a new head coach is still in the process of finding its way.
“We are going to go back and watch film and see the things we [can improve] on,” Leahy said after the 12-8 loss to Neumann-Goretti on Sept. 6. “We’ll go out in practice and work on it and give 100 percent. We just need to fix our mistakes.”
Leahy has no problem showing younger teammates the way. At school, he is part of the Link Crew, which is a transition program for freshmen. As orientation leaders, Leahy and a group of his upper classmates help freshmen navigate those early jitters of starting classes at a new school. They help with academic planning, time management, school club involvement and social skills.
He’s also part of the Green and White Club, which is a student-led group that acts as an ambassador team, hosting prospective student events like open houses.
“We shadow students who are coming to look at the school and open houses,” Leahy said. “I walk around and show people the school. I love it. I love getting to talk to new people and meet new faces.”
Leahy hopes to play football next year while studying finance. But the only green he’s worried about now is the color of his football jersey. He said he wants to make everyone proud.
“I really look up to my family and my coaches,” Leahy said. “They push me to be the best person I can be.”
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