• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

O’Leary reconsiders, looks to a future at the UW

JANESVILLE —

Catie O’Leary might end up at the University of Wisconsin after all.

The Janesville Parker High School senior basketball standout was released from her Loyola University of Chicago scholarship Wednesday afternoon, her father, Harry, said today.

Now the process of possibly going to the University of Wisconsin begins.

O’Leary, a two-time Associated Press all-state first-team selection and the three-time Player of the Year in the Big Eight Conference, was allowed to opt out of her Loyola scholarship after head coach Shannon Reidy resigned.

Wisconsin originally had only one scholarship available for the 2009-10 season, and that went to Ripon’s Taylor Wurtz. But the departures of Maria Dunham and Sarah Ingison have opened up two more scholarships.

Harry O’Leary said a report in today’s Wisconsin State Journal that the transfer has been completed is premature.

The Madison newspaper reported that O’Leary wrote a letter to UW coach Lisa Stone on Sunday night, asking for the opportunity to play for the Badgers. Stone is not allowed to comment on O’Leary’s signing until she enrolls in school in September.

A four-year starter at Parker, the 5-foot-10 O’Leary finished her career with 1,464 points to rank third in school history behind former Badger Jennah Burkholder and Mistie Bass, who played at Duke and is currently on the roster of the Chicago Skye in the WNBA.