He does it all - and does it well

For the record, Sean Grady hasn't spent every day of his senior year at Geneva playing sports.

It probably seems that way, with Grady playing safety on the football team that took second in state in Class 7A, then guard on the basketball team that won just their second conference title in 29 years, and now left field for the Vikings baseball team.

But during his final year at Geneva, one that's been crazy, chaotic, filled with wins and hard work - and above all, fun - Grady did have three days without a football, basketball or baseball game, and without a football, basketball or baseball practice.

And what did he do?

Here's a clue. He still didn't take a break from Geneva sports.

"That was while our girls were down at state (basketball) so I went down there on Thursday for that and stayed until Saturday and then took Sunday and started (baseball) Monday," Grady said. "That's the only days I didn't have practice or a game."

Playing three sports flies in the face of conventional wisdom these days that says you need to pick your sport and train year round to be the best you can be at it.

Grady sees that attitude all around him but wouldn't change a thing about his choices.

"I'd say most people try to specialize because a lot of people think they need to specialize to play in college," Grady said. "For baseball and basketball that might be true, but I'd just encourage everyone (to play three) because you go out there and compete and you can't do that when you are lifting. You find time to lift while you are playing. You don't go out and compete every day unless you are playing a sport at that time."

Three days off during the entire school year might sound like a hard schedule to keep, an easy way to get burned out on sports when you don't get a break from them.

The opposite is true with Grady. Playing each sport is the only thing he knows. A day away from the team isn't much fun.

"For me, I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't playing sports," Grady said. "The days we don't have practice I'll come home and sit at home and really not know what to do and kind of get bored by 4 o'clock. It's (three sports) normal for me and I don't know what I'd do if I didn't play three sports."

Geneva's coaches couldn't be happier. His current one is baseball coach Matt Hahn, who's comments sound a lot like ones earlier this year from football coach Rob Wicinski and basketball coach Phil Ralston.

"Words do not describe Sean," Hahn said. "He is the kind of player every team needs. He does so many things that do not show up in the box score. Sean only knows one speed, and that is full go, regardless of the score or situation."

Grady started the year as the safety on Geneva's 13-1, state runner-up football team. Wicinski described Grady in the say way that could easily have been uttered by Grady's other coaches, "a gym rat." He had a season's worth of big plays, including two long interceptions returns for touchdowns against St. Charles East and a remarkable all-around game in the state semifinals against Crystal Lake South.

Grady showed his knack for making heady plays in about 10 different ways that night, with 14 tackles, a fumble recovery, interception, field goal and coming up with a 2-point conversion pass on a busted extra point. The Vikings needed all those big plays for a 25-21 victory and their first trip to state since 1975.

"He's got a high athletic IQ," Wicinski said. "He finds ways to make plays. He's got instincts."

In addition to baseball, Hahn also coached Grady on the sophomore football team two years ago. He would be the last one to be surprised to see Grady making heads-up plays.

"As a person, Sean is the kind of kid who you would want your own son to be associated with," Hahn said. "What an absolute joy and a pleasure to have him on the team. I have really enjoyed watching him grow up and become a tremendous young man. Any success Sean has earned is because of his tremendous work ethic and desire to win and succeed."

Ralston was the next to see those traits during the basketball season. Not surprisingly, it wasn't being known as a lights-out shooter or a flashy passer that defined Grady.

It was the way he did the little things needed to win games that stood out, whether guarding the other team's best player or taking a charge or making the extra pass.

Many would say the Vikings overachieved with a 21-7 record, and now Grady is hoping to cap a senior year full of championships with one last one in baseball.

When pressed, Grady said football is his favorite sport. He'll play next year at Butler.

"Right now it is baseball but I'd probably say football is my favorite sport," Grady said. "I love the hitting and the camaraderie with the football team, you are brothers because of the work you go through."

Grady also said he never gave thought to giving up one of the sports to concentrate on his best sport or two.

"One of my things my dad told me growing up was never cut yourself," Grady said. "I always loved playing all three sports so I never said 'I might not play so I'm not going to try out.' So I just kept playing."

That attitude isn't one you find as much today as 20 years ago, or as much at larger schools than the smaller ones where the best athletes need to play two or three sports to help each team compete.

But Grady definitely has it. Now with just two months left in his Geneva career, Grady has some advice to any incoming freshmen throughout the area next year trying to decide how many sports they want to play in high school.

"I'd give them the same advice my dad gave me," Grady said. "Don't cut yourself short and say you are not going to make it and not go and try out. Make the coaches make that decision. If you really want to play three sports, you will find time. Coaches will work with you in the summer through camps and stuff. If you are really worried about lifting, practice at the latest is done at 6 so you can go out and lift after that. I'd say to try to stay involved and stay on top of your schedule."

Grady finished the interview and hurried off. After all, he only had a few minutes to get a bite to eat and lift some weights, then tomorrow it would be time to do it all over again.

jlemon@dailyherald.com