Whether it’s on the football field or the basketball court, Joseph Dahl is a difference-maker for Kennedy.
The senior went out for football for the first time this fall and made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. His 30-yard touchdown catch was crucial when the Crusaders beat Ag. Science in a game that all but decided the Public League White Southwest title.
Kennedy went on to reach the IHSA playoffs for the second time in program history and finish 7-3.
Dahl has a longer history in basketball, where he’s a 6-foot-4 swing man and a captain leading the Crusaders in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounding (8.6 per game).
He was one of two players putting up double-doubles when Kennedy cruised past visiting Horizon-Southwest 79-30 in a Public League White Central game on Dec. 19. Jiovanni Navarrete had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Crusaders (4-7, 2-2), while Dahl finished with 10 points and 10 boards. Aiden Rivera (16 points) and Javeon Williams (16 points, five rebounds) also reached double figures.
Coming off his first football season obviously hasn’t been an issue for Dahl.
“It was an easy transition,” he said. “It’s just kind of different because basketball is more constant back-and-forth. Other than that, the transition has been good.”
Dahl also has easily slid into a bigger role for the Crusaders after the departure of some key seniors from last year’s 13-15 team.
“It’s just changed (to) lead the younger people in practice, in the game,” he said. “Just trying to do whatever we can to win, honestly.”
Dahl has been doing exactly that, according to coach Marcus Green.
“He’s been a four-year varsity player for me,” Green said. “(He’s) kind of grown into a leadership role this year. He’s our leading scorer, but he is doing a lot of other things now. He’s rebounding and his assists have picked up — and just knowing what’s expected day to day in practice.”
Offense was a point of emphasis in the offseason, Dahl said.
“I was trying to be more consistent,” he said. “Just work on my mid-range, my shot in general.”
Dahl has seen improvement all around him after the Crusaders’ 1-6 start.
“We have Jio down low getting the boards, we have Javeon from the 3-(point line), we have Kylen (Henderson) facilitating, getting buckets down low and mid-range too,” Dahl said. “It’s hard to guard everyone.”
Green also has seen progress.
“We’ve come a long way from our first game at the Reavis tournament,” he said. “Everyone was so young and coming together. But I think we’re starting to jell a little bit. … We’re starting to know what each other can do and playing more cohesive.”
Horizon-Southwest (2-9, 0-3) won the Public League Blue tournament last season. But coach Romel Bryant left to take a college job and there’s an entirely new roster this year. Louis Arnold led the Huskies with nine points
Dahl, meanwhile, hopes to keep playing after high school, whether it’s football, basketball or even both.
“I’m just trying to go anywhere, honestly,” he said. “Anywhere that offers me.”