Dan Moran-Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week

Sports, both individual or as a part of a team, are wonderful tools to help teach people how to deal with adverse situations. The Oswego East varsity football team had its share of adversity this season, but no matter how tough the situation got, senior Dan Moran remained a consummate captain and leader for his teammates. Through both his spoken words and actions on the field, Dan’s leadership is why he is this week’s Student Athlete of the Week.

Dan’s leadership can be traced to his upbringing. Dan’s father, Terry, serves as the leader of the booster club, and can be seen around Oswego East during many sporting events donating his time. Through the support of his mother and father, Dan has learned how remaining humble and selfless, and always putting his teammates first, defines what makes a true leader. “I think one of his strongest attributes is his incredible sense of ‘Duty to Family.’ He considers his friends, his teachers, his classmates, and his teammates all to be family,” says Terry.

Dan’s sense of duty becomes more evident when he speaks about his about his future. With a 29 on his ACT and a G.P.A. of 3.44, Dan has many options available to him upon graduation. While most seniors will dream of schools in warmer climates or ones with a large student body, Dan dreams of attending West Point Academy. If West Point is not an option, Dan will consider a school with a prestigious ROTC program. On his future in the army Dan says, “When I look back on my life, that has always been one of my strengths - the ability to bear the burden so that others would not have to. It is from that perspective that I know I want to lead soldiers, to protect them, and to defend the ideals that make this country great.”

Dan’s leadership extends outside of the athletic field, as he serves as a Peer Minister for his church program, as well as a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT program) at Oswego East. Athletic Director and SALT facilitator Dan Debruycker defines Dan’s leadership by saying, “He is all about servant leadership. He puts others/the team before himself. He is always seeking to make others around him better.” Defensive coordinator Dan Dunbar has spent a lot of time with Dan on the field and in the classroom, and echoes those sentiments. “Dan has always had the natural tendency to make the best decision based on what is right for the group that he is serving and has grown to be respected by his peers, as he leads by example,” says Dunbar. He goes on to say, “Dan has shown me that, although he is “good” at something, [good] is not enough, and he always strives to be great.”

After hopefully serving in the U.S. Army as an officer, Dan would like to take on the challenge of becoming a civil engineer and architect. Dan’s engineering design and development teacher Tony Holub sees Dan’s leadership style in the classroom, and believes he will make a very successful architect and engineer one day. “Dan is a passionate learner and displays outstanding leadership in the classroom. He is an engaging speaker, has a great sense of humor, and puts his own unique spin on a variety of class activities,” says Holub. Holub elaborates, “From my perspective, if Dan seeks a career in engineering he would be quite successful. He has the work ethic and collaborative skills to succeed in an engineering project design team. In addition, his creative flair in the classroom would translate well to the engineering and architectural fields.”

Although the football team was not able to achieve their goal of competing for a conference championship and making the state playoffs, this season has undoubtedly taught Dan and his teammates various life lessons they will be able to use for the rest of their life, which is truly the reason high school athletes should participate in athletics. Although Oswego East will not be able to replace Dan as a leader when he graduates this spring, there is no doubt he has left his mark on the school and his classmates. His advice to future wolves is simple, “Don’t be afraid to get out and try new things, and have a never say die mentality.” We here at East wish Dan nothing but the best of luck in his impending endeavors, and look forward to seeing how successful he becomes in the future.