Student Spotlight: Danny O’Neil
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
To say Danny O’Neil, a senior at Cathedral High School, had an outstanding season as quarterback and captain of the school’s football team would be an understatement. 
Danny’s record speaks for itself.
Danny completed 186 out of 302 passes in 2023, for 2,068 yards. He also scored 31 touchdowns and had 10 interceptions.
He was the city’s Offensive Player of the Year for both 2022 and 2023, and he was in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 for 2022 and 2023.
Danny’s father, Michael, says he and his wife, Tina, couldn’t be prouder.
“Our entire family feels incredible pride in all of Danny’s accomplishments,” Michael says. “It’s not just what he accomplished on the football field on Friday night that gives me such pride and joy. It is how he accomplished his goals. His mom, Tina, and I have always preached to always be humble and kind regardless of what is attained, and the accompanying notoriety. Danny has done this masterfully. There is not a hand he won’t shake, nor a kid he won’t talk to, being fully engaged.”
Michael notes that Danny worked hard the whole season.
“Danny’s grit and work ethic gave him an advantage,” Michael says. “But being on a team, nothing is achieved alone. He had incredible teammates and coaches during his time at Cathedral that brought this season to its culmination. Although they didn’t make it as far as they would have liked – a state championship – they worked together as a team and made friendships that will last a lifetime. Prior to the season starting, he trained five to six days a week, and he also found time to mentor and coach younger quarterbacks at Pro X with his trainer, Anthony Morrelli. Danny helped Coach Bill Peebles prepare the game plan for the upcoming opponents on Friday nights, implemented the plan during the week at practice, and helped tweak the plays based on what he saw while watching hours and hours of film.”
Danny also achieved academic success during the school year. He had a 4.24 grade point average, and he was an Academic All-State student. “Academics have always been the top priority in our family,” Michael says. “My daughters, Morgan and Delaney, and now Danny, were and are blessed to attend a high school that puts that same priority on academics. We told Danny that Bs are unacceptable, so he really had no other choice but to attain As and he did. It is ingrained in his mindset to always seek excellence in every aspect of his life.”
Danny also found time to help his community. He did more than 100 hours of community service through Cathedral High School.
“He fulfilled these hours of service with an attitude of gratitude,” Michael says. “It is part of his makeup. It’s a get-to-do thing, not a have-to-do thing, all while exuding his characteristics of being humble and kind. Christ calls us to be servant leaders. We have instilled this in all of our children. For those that have been given much, much is expected.” 
