Whiz Kid Dan Barone is a Force to be Reckoned With Both On and Off the Field

• Whiz Kid: Dan Barone, 17.
• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Barone is a Senior at Holliston High School and Captain of both the Varsity Football and Basketball teams.
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Most recently, Barone helped lead the Panthers (5-1, 2-0 TVL) to an impressive 20-0 victory on the road against then-undefeated rival Hopkinton.
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Dan Barone has proven time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with, both on the field and in the classroom. I tend to prefer to have each week’s Whiz Kid be chosen for non-athletic purposes, but after this week’s performance, I simply can't help myself.

In a game that was built-up to be a clash between two close TVL rivals, Dan Barone lead the Panthers to a twenty-to-nothing shutout of the Hillers, solidifying the Panthers' place as a force to be reckoned in the TVL division.

But is this really news? Dan Barone has helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Superbowls at Gillette Stadium, including last year’s unforgettable championship victory. He earned his varsity letters in football and basketball in just his sophomore year, and is now the Captain of both teams. Standing 5’9” and 159 pounds, the Holliston-hero is also a speedster on the track team, running a 40 Yd Dash that was last measured at 4.43 seconds.

To put things mildly, Dan Barone is one heck of an athlete, but how about in academics, surely he has to lag somewhere with all this athletic success? Well, no actually.

Dan Barone has achieved honor role grades each semester he has been at Holliston High School. Not only that, but he takes on a rigorous course load complete with Honors and AP courses. His class rank is in the top 10% and he is known for his earnest and intelligence by his Professors.

Not only that, the young man still makes time to volunteer and be a positive force in the community. Last year he took part in the 100-for-1 Charity Basketball Tournament to support Breast Cancer, among other events.

Suffice it to say, in his four years at HHS Dan Barone has left behind an incredible legacy as a student-athlete, but more importantly, he has become a man of true class. On the few brief occasions that I have personally spoken with Dan, he has struck me by both his humility and good-natured openness. I can’t think of two better traits for a captain, or a friend, to have. As he heads towards his final semester at HHS, Hollistonians should take every opportunity they have to see this athlete in action.

If the last few years are any indication, it is likely that the next opportunity we’ll have to see him perform will be on a much grander, and more expensive, stage. After all, he’s already got one victory at Gillette under his belt, who’s to say he won’t have a few more down the line? You just never know.