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01/30/2019 11:00 PMThe Westbrook boys’ basketball squad is developing a deep team of talented athletes across every grade this winter. One of the biggest factors behind the Knights’ progression is the effort of Dan Perreault as both a player and a leader.
Dan is a shooting guard who’s leading Westbrook as a senior captain this season. Dan started playing basketball at age 11 and then moved through the ranks of park and rec and middle school, before joining the team at the high school. In his first year as a varsity regular, Dan is having a nice senior season for the young Knights, who are continually building their camaraderie as they aim to finish the campaign strong.
“A big thing for me has been leading by example. A good amount of our team is underclassmen, and it’s showing them what it takes to be successful and win,” says Dan. “As a shooting guard, my favorite part of it is trying to figure out the right path you should be passing to in order to get the offense moving. Sometimes it can be tough deciding who to pass to.”
Dan has learned a lot while traveling the path toward becoming a captain. One of the biggest lessons that he’s learned is the importance of being a cerebral player who’s ready to face every challenge on the court.
“In four years, I’ve become more mentally stronger,” Dan says. “I’ve become tougher and realized that sports is more about being mentally strong than physically strong. And we’ve tried to incorporate that more here at Westbrook.”
As a captain, Dan strives to foster a strong sense of synergy among the Knights. He also emphasizes the time-tested principle of always giving 100 percent during each practice and every game.
“I’ve tried to show them that you can’t take off any one possession,” Dan says. “You have to keep going, be tough, and push forward, no matter the difficulty of something.”
Head Coach Jeff Beeman describes Dan as a durable player who’s always willing to heed any advice that helps either him or his team get better.
“Dan is a quiet and hard-working defender,” says Beeman. “He’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve ever coached.”
Westbrook has picked up a few recent victories that will aid the team in its playoff chase this year. As the Knights enter the home stretch of the season, Dan says they need to maintain their intensity, while staying in sync on both ends of the court.
“We’re trying to focus on how to incorporate everyone and keep up the good energy,” Dan says. “We have to come with high energy on offense and defense and keep communicating with each other. We also have to keep deciding the right plays to make.”