By Hayden Swope

Kaleigh O’Brien, a basketball athlete from Remington, was chosen as the Visit Salina Athlete of the Month. As a junior, O’Brien was named first team all-league and first team all-state. 

“It’s an awesome opportunity and an honor to be selected amongst lots of amazing athletes,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien spent the offseason working with trainers and teammates to advance her skills on the court. 

“My teammates and I played AAU over the summer,” O’Brien said. “I have been going to various amounts of workouts and training sessions, as well as working on my own. I really needed to work on my ball handling and improve my skills.”

Working on and off the court, O’Brien’s greatest goal has been to make it to state, and she has hopes that this is the year that the Broncos make an appearance. 

“My biggest goal this season is what most athletes work towards and that is to get better and be at the state tournament,” O’Brien said. “I really want to come together as a team and get lots of team chemistry going as well as have fun.”

Hoping to make one last state debut before she graduates, O’Brien, a Halstead transfer, looked back on her favorite Halstead state appearances.

“My favorite basketball memory was going to state two years in a row as well as winning the first round of state my freshman year,” O’Brien said. 

While playing basketball with her teammates, she also gets to be involved in many other activities at the high school.

“Since being in such a small school, most of the team is involved with many things,” O’Brien said. “Along with basketball I have the opportunity to be in volleyball, track, student council, and yearbook.”

O’Brien hopes to continue her athletic career in college while also continuing her studies. 

“I am wanting to play college basketball but I am still undecided on where and what I’m going to major in,” O’Brien said.