By Ken Hansard

          Brayden O’Leary is making the most of his senior year at Fredonia High School, making the most of every opportunity to compete and grow as a multi-sport athlete. A member of the Yellowjackets baseball and track teams, O’Leary has taken on the roles of pitcher and runner while also stepping into a leadership position for his teammates. “It’s my senior season, so the main focus is to finish strong,” O’Leary said. “We’re working on understanding our identity on the diamond, having confidence, and just overall having faith in ourselves.” That mindset reflects not only his personal goals, but also his commitment to helping the team develop throughout the season.

Despite a challenging start and a current 2-8 record, O’Leary remains optimistic about the team’s potential. “We’re sitting in a spot of trying to figure out who we are,” he said. “We have a good team this year, but I feel like sometimes we forget that.” After finishing last in the Tri Valley League a season ago, he is motivated to help turn things around and push for a stronger finish.

Individually, O’Leary has focused on improving at the plate while continuing to grow as a teammate and mentor. “I’m really focusing on becoming better at the plate,” he said. “But a more important goal for me is being a better teammate and making sure the younger guys understand the game.”

O’Leary’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, particularly when it comes to confidence. However, he credits his personal growth and faith for helping him stay grounded. “It’s truly a blessing to be able to go out and compete each day,” he said.

With a 3.86 GPA and involvement in football, basketball, track, and FCCLA, O’Leary plans to attend Pitt State University to study exercise science, hoping to remain connected to athletics in the future.