Senior Haylee Gormley is a star athlete at Geary High School. She is known to be a dominant figure in basketball, along with softball, track, and cross country.

Growing up, Halyee has been a natural athlete. The sport she has enjoyed most, even since she was young, is basketball.

“I started playing basketball just as a kid just as fun but then it became my passion throughout every year I played,” she says.

What kept her continuing to pursue basketball is the peace that she feels while she plays the game.

“It gives me a peace of mind. Truly, when I’m playing basketball, I’m at my best mentally,” Gormley says. “I love that when I’m playing or even just practicing, nothing else matters.”

Gormley has found basketball to be an outlet for her throughout her life, and her dedication to the game is evident, her success well-earned. When asked what the biggest lesson she has learned from basketball is, she highlights the importance of dedication.

 “I’ve learned that you’ve got to put in the extra work on my own to become great, to be patient, and to be your own motivation,” Gormley says.

The hard work that she puts in makes an impact on not only her, but the team. Gormley is a natural leader of her team, and she leads her peers by example.

“I show up when it’s not mandatory,” Gormley says. “ I put in extra work after practice which encourages my teammates to do the same.”

As an experienced athlete, Gormley offers some of her best advice to fellow athletes: “Just like in any sport you’ll have a bad game, or even just a bad practice. You’ll go through many setbacks that’ll be discouraging, but you’ve got to use them as your motivation to work even harder.”