Academy of Notre Dame guard Casey Walsh is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior guard leads Delaware County in treys (46 as of Monday) and set an Academy of Notre Dame record with nine treys Jan. 20 against Baldwin. She is currently averaging 12.6 points per game, has made 84 percent of her free throws, and is averaging 2.5 rpg and 2.5 apg. She received All-Main Line basketball honors last winter, as well as the Under Armour Player Award at the Hoops for Hope Classic Jan. 8 at University of Sciences and was named Player of the Game in a huge win for the Irish against Lancaster Catholic in the Blue Chip Classic Jan. 28.
A: I found out after the game when Coach [Mary Beth] McNichol announced the news and I was very surprised because there have been so many great shooters that have gone through the program. I follow the same routine in every game and I stick to the same fundamentals before every game.
Q: What do you attribute your success in treys this season to?
A: I always work on my shooting in the off season and I’ve been really fortunate to get a lot of great looks coming off some good screens followed by good passes. It helps me stay in rhythm.
Q: You received the Under Armour Player Award at the Hoops for Hope Classic Jan. 8 at the University of Sciences. What is your most vivid memory of the Classic that day – can you share it with us?
A: The excitement from me and my team after being down by double digits and having the ball in my hands and hitting the three to bring us into overtime for a second chance to win the game.
Q: Where did you get your start playing basketball? Who have been your most important basketball mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: My sisters had always been in the gym since I was three years old and watching them play got me involved in the local Great Valley Basketball League. In second grade, my dad’s college roommate, Mr. Kiey, asked me to play with his fourth grade team. That’s when I began to learn the basic fundamentals. I began to really like playing during my CYO years. I had great friends. We had good teams and I had some great coaches like Coach DiDonato and Coach Chambers. They taught me how to play good team defense, to learn to be passionate about the game, and to be patient in stressful situations. In my second season playing for the Lady Runnin’ Rebels AAU Coach Will was great. He made me a much more confident player and he made basketball fun.
Q: What (to you) has been your most memorable moment as a member of the Academy of Notre Dame basketball team – can you share it with us?
A: When we beat Villa Maria in all four years that I have been at Notre Dame. I have a lot of friends from my CYO team that play on Villa and I just remember those games as the most fun to play.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 33 for Academy of Notre Dame? Is there a reason you chose that number – does it carry any special significance to you?
A: It originally was my dad’s number. He has really taught me how to play. He pushed me to be the best that I can be and he has been a huge part of my basketball career.
Q: Who are your favorite basketball players? Are there any players that you try to pattern your game after?
A: Honestly, my sisters, Kelsey and Dana, are my favorite players. I got to see them play for my whole life and they taught me how to be part of team and I love to watch them play. I try to carry little things that they are good at to improve my own game.
Q: What is your favorite basketball venue and why?
A: Probably the Great Valley Basketball League center because it is practically my second home. I go there to practice my shot with my dad, and it’s where I’ve played so much basketball over the years and holds so many great memories.
Q: You have committed to play basketball at Connecticut College – what led you to that school?
A: Coach Wilson was the very first coach to reach out to me after an AAU tournament when I was playing for the Rebels. He continued to watch me play and I was amazed by how many games he came to.
Q: What extracurricular activities are you involved in at Academy of Notre Dame other than basketball? What sparked your interest in these activities?
A: In the post- and pre- season I spend a lot of my time training at the High Performance Athletic Training Center in West Chester. I also got involved with volunteering for the Caring Hands Foundation of the Great Valley Community Organization. I didn’t take any extracurricular activities this year because I’m trying to focus on my classes but I used to be in the Art and Spanish club freshman and sophomore year.
Fun facts – Casey Walsh
Favorite book: Catcher in the Rye, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Favorite author: John Green.
Favorite TV show: The Office.
Favorite movie: Stand By Me.
Favorite athlete: Brian Dawkins.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Jungle by X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons.
Favorite team: Connecticut College Camels.
Favorite place to visit: Emerald Isle, N.C.
Favorite pre-game meal: Kit Kats or a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich.
Person I most admire: “My mom because she works so hard and sacrifices a lot just so I can get a chance to do what I love.”
Favorite color: Mint green.
Birth date: April 1, 1999 in Phoenixville.
Family members: parents Keith and Rena, older sisters Dana and Kelsey, younger brother Buck.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
