Brody Weinmeister is a difference maker in multiple sports, but his greatest attributes do not show up in a scorebook.

The Aberdeen Roncalli senior finds a way to make an impact in roles that often go unnoticed.

From stopping opponents in football to guarding the best player on a basketball court, Weinmeister loves a challenge, even if it means he doesn’t get a ton of credit.

“I’m not really one for the glory and the praise and stuff like that. I’d rather see my teammates do well,” Weinmeister said. “If I have to take the sucky job of running around, face guarding their best player for 32 minutes, I’m fine with that, as long as it means that we’re going to get to the end that we want, and hopefully the win.”

While that can sometimes be a difficult task, Weinmeister meets it head on.

“I’m never going to back down from a challenge,” he said.

And when it comes to challenges, Weinmeister is an expert.

He suffered a variety of injuries during his high school career and came back stronger each time. There was a concussion his freshman year of football, a sprained ankle his sophomore year of basketball, a dislocated shoulder that robbed him of the finish of football and start of basketball last season, and finally another shoulder injury this year that meant missing the start of the football season.

A typical person might have just given up. Not Weinmeister.

“That’s just kind of been his identity. He’s that hard worker. He’s a guy that wants to give it all,” said Dan Gallagher, Roncalli boys’ basketball coach and defensive coordinator for football. “So as devastating as those injuries were, you also knew it was just a slight setback. You knew with Brody he was going to come out on top and he was going to be better for it.”

To hear Weinmeister describe his motivation for battling back each time, it becomes abundantly clear that he is a servant leader, in more ways than one.

“I feel like the community and the people at Roncalli have put a lot of time and effort into me and I just want to give back any way I can,” Weinmeister said. “I feel like I’m athletic enough and have good leadership where I can lead on these teams, and so I just try to give back, and give back to the younger people.”

Weinmeister, who was selected the homecoming king this past fall, has found ways to give back during his entire time at Roncalli. When not making his teammates better in the athletic arena, he spends time in the classroom helping to mentor younger students.

“He comes into my classroom every other Wednesday morning to speak to our eighth-grade boys just about life in general. He’s that type of kid,” Gallagher said. “He loves helping others, he loves serving others. He’s the epitome of what we love to see with our students at Roncalli.”

Weinmeister, who has served his school in a variety of ways, is now preparing to serve his country as well.

He was recently accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the military,” Weinmeister said. “My dad was in the military. … He kind of instilled in me that respect and appreciation for the military, and so I always wanted to serve.”

Before then, however, Weinmeister, who plans to compete in track and field this spring, has goals of helping the Cavaliers on the basketball floor, shutting down potent scorers from opposing teams.

At 6-foot-1, 190-pounds Weinmeister possesses the size to battle against taller foes, and the quickness to keep up with speedy guards.

“I feel like I’m pretty quick for how big I am,” Weinmeister said. “I’m strong enough to be able to defend bigger guys, but I’m also quick enough to stay with those shifty guards. I think that’s what makes me a solid defender.”

That, and a motor that never quits along with the knowledge that he has already overcome tougher obstacles in his past.

As Weinmeister is heading down the home stretch of his Roncalli athletic career, in true servant leader style, he thanked a group of people, in particular Roncalli football coach Billy Young, and athletic trainer Theresa Backous, who he has gotten to know all too well with his myriad of injuries.

“I would be nowhere near where I am today without the people around me. Coach Gallagher, Coach Young, Theresa, all the teachers here that have supported me and helped me throughout this journey,” Weinmeister said. “So just kind of giving back to them, saying thanks to them, is what I want to do.”

And while others may not recognize Weinmeister’s full contribution to the Cavaliers on the basketball floor this season, Gallagher knows the special leader his team possesses, setting the tone every chance he gets.

“He’s willing to step in and do the dirty work, take charges, defend the best players, defending a post player, because of his strength and physicality, dive for loose balls,” Gallagher said. “He’s willing to do it all. He’s our vocal leader at practice. He picks people up. He does it all.”

And does it with true servant leadership.