A multisport athlete’s day by day schedule is jam-packed, and that’s very true for Sacred Heart senior Leah Varisco.
While it’s widespread for Sacred Heart athletes to play a number of sports activities, Varisco takes on the problem of taking part in each basketball and soccer in the course of the winter sports activities season. She’s booked up all through the remainder of the 12 months as effectively, starting with cross nation within the fall and concluding with out of doors observe and subject within the spring.
Varisco is a key contributor in all 4 sports activities she’s collaborating in and has competed on the varsity degree since center college. She’s Sacred Heart’s all-time main scorer in basketball as the college’s first participant to achieve 1,000 factors.
“(Varisco) has had a really good impact,” Sacred Heart basketball coach Courtney Ward mentioned. “Being able to balance the multiple sports, she’s the definition of what Sacred Heart is. Being able to give girls the opportunity to do multiple things, balance it and excel academically. She encompasses all of those things.”
Leah is the oldest of 4 Varisco women taking the courtroom or the sector for Sacred Heart this season. Her youthful sister, Rosie, is a sophomore who additionally performs basketball and soccer.
Their cousin, Lily Varisco, is a junior who performs basketball, and their different cousin, Coco Varisco, begins as a freshman in soccer. Their aunt, Michel Varisco Gleason, is married to New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason, and the couple often attends Sacred Heart video games.
“It’s really special (to play alongside family members),” Leah Varisco mentioned. “It’s something that I know a lot of people can’t experience, so it’s a great opportunity. Being able to play with them is so fun.
“(Gleason) is a really great inspiration for everyone, and I always look to him for inspiration. Seeing (him and Michel) there (at games) makes us want to play harder.”
Leah is Sacred Heart basketball’s start line guard and is averaging 13 factors and 6 assists per sport this season. She’s grown as a vocal chief on the courtroom through the years, serving to lead Sacred Heart to its first state championship sport look final 12 months.
She has additionally accounted for 45 p.c of Sacred Heart soccer’s factors by means of objectives scored or assists. Sacred Heart reached the Division III semifinals this season, and he or she scored a aim in a 2-1 semifinal loss to Parkview Baptist.
“(Leah Varisco) is a significant factor in our success,” Sacred Heart soccer coach Michael Plaisance mentioned. “She sets a great example for us as a multisport athlete and sets the mold for the extremely hard work that goes into it. She’s a joy to coach and is always focused on the game.”
Leah Varisco of Sacred Heart locations second in the course of the Mount Carmel Cub Run cross nation meet in City Park in New Orleans, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)
She competes in a number of observe and subject occasions, together with the 4×800 relay, the 1600 and the 3200. Distance working is her specialty, as she’s been a Times-Picayune All-Metro cross nation choice a number of occasions.
After her senior 12 months at Sacred Heart, Varisco plans to attend school and pursue a profession within the medical subject.
“I know it’s my last year, so I’ve just been trying to give even more effort,” Varisco mentioned. “It’s been really special to me. I want to go all the way in basketball again. We did it last year, and I think we can do it again.”
Sacred Heart basketball is the No. 3 seed within the Division III choose playoffs and is scheduled to host No. 11-seeded D’Arbonne Woods within the quarterfinals on Thursday. Seniors Libby Fitzpatrick and Sophie Lo are key items alongside Varisco.
“We’re looking for all those seniors to play their best at the right moment,” Ward mentioned. “They’re prepared, they’ve been there before, so it’s not a shock to them. I think they have the opportunity and the skillset to (make a playoff run).”