A leader in the classroom, on the court and the field, senior Daniel Holihan is leaving a lasting impact at Hoover High School. Holihan has taken on many responsibilities and leadership roles during his years at Hoover.
“I am involved in multiple extracurricular activities and sports,” Holihan said. “I play basketball and baseball. I am also NHS president, class representative and a Link Crew leader.”
As someone who has taken part in many extracurricular activities, Holihan couldn’t recommend trying new things more. He pushes all incoming high school students to join new clubs, sports or any activities that appeal to them.
“My tip for making the most out of high school is during your first two years of high school, try all the clubs and activities you can to see what you are interested in doing,” Holihan said. “Then, as you get to your junior and senior years, take this time to take advantage of all the relationships and opportunities these clubs offer.”
Balancing sports and leadership roles has taught Holihan valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance and dedication. Whether on the court, the field or in student organizations, he has embraced the challenges that come with being a leader. Sports, in particular, have had a profound influence on his high school experience, shaping his mindset and approach to both social life and leadership.
“Baseball and basketball have both affected my time at Hoover in positive ways,” Holihan said. “Both have led me to meet amazing people and lifelong friends. Baseball has helped me understand that the team’s success comes first. I have also developed so much dedication and grit just by playing baseball. Baseball is a challenging game that requires a strong mental attitude and a positive mindset. These things I have learned have helped me outside of baseball and have helped my education at Hoover. Basketball has taught me how to be a great leader and to lead by example. This characteristic has helped me become a great president for NHS and a respected member in the Hoover community.”
Through his experiences, both in baseball and basketball, Holihan has not only grown as an athlete but also as a leader and role model within the Hoover community. His dedication to his teams go beyond just playing the game—he prioritizes teamwork, sportsmanship and success of his teammates. His commitment to putting his team first and leading has not gone unnoticed. Coach Bluey, Hoover’s Varsity Basketball coach, has seen firsthand the impact Holihan has had on his teammates both on and off the court.
“[Holihan’s] a great competitor as an athlete, he’s also a great competitor as a student,” Bluey said. “He strives to perform at his best, all the time… [Holihan] is a great teammate, great leader in the locker room and on the court…He can always play multiple positions, at the guard spot, if we needed a backup for the guard, he was always ready and willing to fill that spot.”
Along with his mentors, Holihan’s peers also recognize his commitment and selflessness with his teams. One of Holihan’s close friends, senior Nathan Spangler, admires Holihan and his busy schedule.
“The one thing I admire the most about [Holihan] is his drive,” Spangler said. “I think it is difficult to manage all my homework and other extracurricular activities during baseball season. I can’t imagine doing cross country, basketball and baseball while having virtually no off-season. His ability to manage everything he has to do while playing three sports in high school is impressive to me.”
Spangler’s admiration and respect for Holihan is not a newfound feeling. Their friendship has grown since childhood, beginning on a Little League baseball field.
“I first met [Holihan] when we were nine or 10 years old through North Canton Little League baseball,” Spangler said. “We normally were not on the same team, but we did get to play together on our 11u [and] 12u North Canton Williamsport teams.”
The competition they started as children on the field continues to this day. Spangler believes they push each other to better themselves, in a way many friendships don’t.
“My favorite part of our friendship is our competitiveness with everything,” Spangler said. “Whether it’s on a school assignment, on the baseball field, or a Clash Royale match, we are always pushing each other to bring our best.”
While Spangler looked back on his years with Holihan, Bluey focused on Holihan’s future. Bluey appreciates Holihan’s personality and approach to life, in many ways Bluey believes that’s what will take Holihan far in life.
“I think [Holihan] is hilarious…I admire his curiosity [and] I admire his intuitiveness,” Bluey said. “[Holihan] and I have had a lot of very interesting conversations. I look forward to watching him succeed as an adult and represent Hoover High School really well.”
Before looking into his future, Holihan reflected on the last four years of his life. Out of those years, his junior year of high school was very challenging for him, due to his class load, but those classes lead to him becoming a better student.
“The hardest part of high school for me was my junior year when I was taking AP Lang and AP Chem,” Holihan said. “Along with other classes, these classes required me to do a lot of work outside of school. However, I pushed through the hardships of these classes and finished with good grades in each.”
Only a few months remain before the Class of 2025’s graduation. With that countdown started, Hoover students are comparing and contemplating their future career choices. Holihan has narrowed down his career goals.
“I plan to attend college after this year,” Holihan said. “I want to study chemistry in college with a focus on pre-med. My eventual goal is to make it into medical school/dental school. Further in my career, I want to work in a healthcare position, helping people every day I go into work…I am excited to work as hard as I can for as long as I need to to get my dream job and enjoy the luxury of a nice family. I look forward to having my dream job and living off the money I make to help my family and enjoy life.”
After all is said and done, not everything you experience in high school will stay with you. Two things that have stayed with Holihan are pieces of advice passed down by those who have been through the high school experience.
“Two pieces of advice I have received that have helped me throughout high school are to make the most of all four years and take advantage of all the opportunities you have freshman and sophomore year,” Holihan said. “My other piece of advice is don’t let the grades you get take too much of a toll on your life and what you find enjoyable. These two pieces of advice have helped me take advantage of opportunities I had to work to earn and look at certain things in high school with a unique perspective to keep my personal and mental health as my top priorities.”
