Dani DeGregory is an extraordinary young leader in the classrooms, on athletic teams and in the school community. She is a catalyst for high performance, setting an example of commitment to academics and selflessly leading teams to heights unimaginable in her absence.

Dani is a member of the National Honor Society and ranks 5^th in the senior class. Her schedule of classes has been demanding and includes three years of lab science and college credit-bearing courses in Spanish, Pre-calculus and Calculus. Her typical report card has effort grades of “1-excellent” in every class, reflecting stellar preparation and participation.  When senior scholar athletes set this kind of example in classes, younger students are watching and typically follow the lead. 

Dani has played organized sports since early elementary school- basketball leagues in Greenwich, Saratoga Springs and Albany;  Futures National field hockey program and Greenwich little league softball.  When her father coached various basketball teams at GCS, Dani would tag along and invariably end up at a basket with a ball in her hands. Early on, Dani was an athletic prodigy, but her work ethic has helped elevate her even higher. She has arguably grown to exert the greatest influence on her athletic teams of any athlete in GCS history. She has led and captained field hockey, basketball and softball teams to sectional titles and State prominence. After losing, in overtime, in the 2011 State field hockey finals, Dani was in school, on time the next morning.  She finished her field hockey career as the New York State Section 2 all-time leader in goals and assists and stands poised to become the all-time scoring GCS basketball history this season.  If there was a formal basketball assist record, she would undoubtedly hold that, too. Dani has garnered fourteen varsity letters and All-State recognition in all three sports; yet, beyond the championships, records and honors, she is best appreciated for the élan and magnanimity of her play. Over and over, in field hockey and basketball, she passes up shots to zip stunning assists to teammates, allowing them to score, too. Everyone works harder, knowing that they are “seen” and regarded by her.

Perhaps no story better illustrates Dani’s toughness and resilience than an incident which occurred at the end of her seventh grade year.  She was attending a graduation party and playing basketball with a group of 18-year old boys, varsity veterans. She took a break and jogged across a neighboring yard, not seeing the hybrid wolf chained to a porch railing. It dashed at Dani and bit her in the thigh. It is safe to say that most players would be done with basketball for the day, but after Dani’s parents confirmed that the wolf had the necessary shots, Dani’s leg was washed, bandaged  and Dani was back in the thick of the games (albeit with a limp).

Dani’s contributions extend into volunteering. She is the treasurer of the yearbook, field hockey and basketball teams, is active in the student council and tutors fellow students on behalf of the National Honor Society. She has helped coach intramural basketball for 4th, 5th and 6th graders and earlier this fall, volunteered with field hockey teammates at the “Run for the ROC (Radiology/Oncology Center of Saratoga Hospital).”

Dani recently committed to Skidmore College, where she will play intercollegiate field hockey and basketball.  She chose Skidmore over some bigger schools because of the quality of the educational program and the opportunity to play two sports (coaches from some of the larger schools that were recruiting her were not receptive to playing more than one sport). Skidmore is also close enough to allow her family and friends to regularly attend games.

To many, especially opposing coaches, it seems as though Dani has been playing varsity sports at GCS forever; but, her high school career is drawing to a close. Before she graduates, she is hoping to help lead the basketball and softball teams to a few more titles.