By: Hayden Coker, Sports Director
Stop number two of the Winter Sports Pre-Season Tour landed at North Platte St. Pat's, where Hayden sat down with girls' basketball Head Coach Kelsie O'Neill, boys' basketball Head Coach Bill O'Malley, and boys' wrestling Head Coach Kevin Wood.
Boys' Basketball
Up first is Head Coach Bill O'Malley of the St. Pat's boys' basketball team.
Coach is very confident in his guys and is excited to get the season started. "We're really enthusiastic about the season," He mentioned. "We lost some valuable seniors last year, but we've got some really good kids returning. Guys with a lot of experience."
The Irish, who finished last season with a 16-11 record, may have lost some talent, but O'Malley is fairly confident in his crew to get the job done. A challenging schedule is on the horizon for the Irish, especially with Valentine being their first game. "That's a really good team," O'Malley said. "That's a returning state tournament team with most of their guys back. So, that'll be a challenge right out of the gate."
For any team, though, playing a challenging schedule can be beneficial down the stretch. Especially for a team like St. Pat's, which can get the job done. "If you have guys who can play with poise and confidence, they can use that to learn and get better," Said O'Malley.
When looking to the upcoming season and recapping the offseason, O'Malley mentioned this past summer and the hard work that was put in by the Irish. "The kids had a really good summer. Performed well, competed well, and are looking forward to having a great year."
Coach O'Malley and the Irish are ready to roll. The only thing left to do in the meantime? Cheer on the Irish football team. To find the full schedule for the Irish's upcoming season, visit here.
Girls' Basketball
Next up is Irish Alum Kelsie O'Neill, Head Coach of the St. Pat's girls' basketball team. O'Neill discusses how she got into coaching, how she views the team as family, and the upcoming season.
Coach O'Neill's roots lie in the halls of St. Pat's. She has worn the same shade of green that her players now wear. O'Neill, a 2007 graduate of St. Pat's, is eager to start the season with her girls.
This is an Irish team with experience, as Coach O'Neill mentions: "Over the last couple of years, I've started a lot of freshmen and sophomores." She went on, "This year, I have a group of juniors who have a ton of varsity experience."
So, the experience is there. After a rough last season, this is now the time for the Irish to capitalize on having a couple of "young years". The inexperience eventually runs out, especially with how hard her girls hit the gym this past summer. "We attended a lot of camps and got a lot better," Said O'Neill. "We've had a couple of weeks of conditioning already, and the girls have brought the energy, and they're really focused on wanting to be better."
It is clear that this season, O'Neill has a group of girls that want to be better and prove to not just themselves, but to others that they can compete.
Olivia Phelps (JR), Ruby Uerling (JR), Jade Welch (SO), Brooke Brosius (JR), Jade Welch (SO), and Elise Eickhoff (SO) were among the players who Coach O'Neill said would be returning this year.
Coach Kelsie O'Neill's message to her team? Pretty simple: "Work hard".
For the full schedule for the 2026-2027 season, visit here.
Boys' Wrestling
Finally, we have Head Coach Kevin Wood of St. Pat's wrestling to preview their season and show his support for a team at St. Pat's team who is having a season to remember.
Wood and his team have not started practice yet but are sitting on G, waiting on O, as time slowly ticks by. Wood discussed how beneficial it is for his wrestlers to play other sports to help with wrestling. "The more they compete, the better they are going to be."
The competition will be strong for St. Pat's this year, but the Irish are excited for the opportunity to get on the mat. St. Pat's has several key wrestlers making their way back to the mat for the Irish. Breckyn Collins, who medaled last year for the Irish, is among a few wrestlers Coach Wood stated would be back this season.
Coach Wood left with a few words for the community before the start of the season: "Go Big Green! Let's go get that first down!"
The Irish begin their season on December 3th in Alma for the Alma Duals Tournament at 2:00 in the Alma Public Schools Main Gym. For a full schedule for the 2026-2027 season, visit here.