WPIAL Alum Q&A – Brendan Lynch

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 24, 2016 | 9:23 PM

Brendan Lynch was a special athlete in his time at Freeport High School, and now Lynch is proving to be a special player at Case Western Reserve University. Formerly a three-sport standout for the Yellowjackets, Lynch is enjoying a prolific senior campaign as a receiver for the Spartans.

Before he made his mark in the college ranks, Lynch was well known throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley for his efforts on the gridiron, hardwood and track. He was a four-year letterwinner in track and field, while garnering letters in three seasons for both football and basketball. He was also a three-time All-County selection in hoops.

It was in football that Lynch really stood out, though, as he excelled on both sides of the ball. As a quarterback in his junior year in 2011, Lynch passed for nearly 600 yards and rushed for more than 400 yards, totaling 14 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-Conference performer at both quarterback and defensive back that season, as the Yellowjackets went 7-3.

Lynch was even better as a senior, as he passed for more than 600 yards, and rushed for nearly 1,200. He produced 22 total scores, again guiding his squad to a mark of 7-3. For the second-straight season, Lynch earned first-team honors at both QB and DB. Additionally, he was named to the All-Pennsylvania Second Team at defensive back.

With the opportunity to continue his football career, Lynch committed to Case Western Reserve to play receiver. His freshman year of 2013 included four games for Lynch, as he hauled in eight passes.

As a sophomore, though, Lynch became instrumental in the Spartans’ offense. Playing in six games, he caught 31 passes for nearly 300 yards, scoring twice. Factoring in his return yardage, Lynch eclipsed 600 all-purpose yards, and was named an honorable mention to the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) and All-Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) teams. That season, however, Case Western Reserve won just three contests.

Last season, Lynch notched 42 catches for 330 yards over nine contests, marks that were second and third best on the team, respectively. Meanwhile, Case Western Reserve enjoyed much greater team success, with a record of 7-3.

Lynch has exploded in his senior year, though, putting up eye-popping statistics. In seven games so far, he’s hauled in 53 passes for 833 yards, with nine touchdowns. Moreover, he’s had two games with more than 200 yards receiving, and four multi-score performances. In large part because of his contributions, the Spartans are undefeated.

Brendan took time from his football duties and class workload to talk about his breakthrough season, his thoughts on Freeport’s new football field, and his favorite Halloween costume.

Q: You posted strong receiving numbers the past two seasons, but this year, your statistics have been astronomical. What’s the biggest reason for your massive improvement?

A: There are many factors that have influenced my performance this year. First of all, my coaches have done a great job of putting me in a position to succeed – moving me around the field, exploiting matchups against opposing teams and helping me become a better receiver. Secondly, my teammates have been great; we have an awesome QB, Rob Cuda. We have great chemistry and he puts it right on the money every time. Also, we have an outstanding receivers group, as a whole. We have a lot of talent and different skill sets; it makes it tough to focus on just one guy, so I have benefited as a result. Lastly, I put in a lot of hard work this offseason, working on fine tuning my game – becoming a better catcher, route-runner, and improving my speed and quickness – it seems to be paying off thus far.

Q: In high school, you played a lot of QB. What was the biggest transition to playing receiver in college?

A: Yes, I was a QB in high school. The transition to WR in college hasn’t been easy, but I’ve had a lot of great coaches and teammates help me out along the way. The toughest part has definitely been the blocking aspect – you never have to do that as a QB, and so that was the toughest adjustment. It took a while to get comfortable with the position as a whole too, but things are starting to come together.

Q: What game or play stands out as your best moment thus at Case Western Reserve?

A: There’s been a lot of great moments throughout my career. But, I’d have to say last season when we beat W&J, that was the biggest moment. It really put us on the map as a program and gained us a lot of respect nationally and in the conference. It helped us prove we belonged in the PAC.

Q: Your team is off to a great start, after just a three win campaign in 2014. What was been key to the program’s resurgence in the past two years?

A: It really all started in the offseason of 2014 (the year we went 3-7). All the players came together and decided we needed to change the culture of the team and bring a winning attitude back to the program. It started with everyone buying into the philosophy, which was working hard, having fun and focusing on the task at hand. It’s very important to have fun and play loose; that helps you win football games. In order to do that, it is important to be physically and mentally prepared for the task at hand at all times; don’t worry about the standings, the rankings or who we play in two weeks. Just worry about the next team on the schedule and treat every game the same.

Q: Did you set any individual or team goals prior to the season?

A: Individually, it didn’t set any specific goals, I just wanted to come into the season and do everything I could to help this team win and be a great teammate. I wanted to make the most of my last year playing football and have no regrets. As a team, our goal is simple: win every game. We have done our part so far and we will continue to focus on accomplishing that goal each week.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Case Western Reserve?

A: I decided to come to Case Western first and foremost because of the academic pedigree here. The school has a great reputation and the programs are wonderful. It also played a role that they had a great football program, as well. I knew I wanted to continue my football career, so I figured if I can attend a prestigious university in the process, why not.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future occupation?

A: I am major in chemical engineering. I would like to attend medical school and eventually become an anesthesiologist if everything works out in my favor.

Q: You had some great performances in three different sports at Freeport. What was your fondest memory from high school?

A: Playing for Freeport was a great experience for me. There is a rich tradition for sports at that school and many people don’t realize that; I am very proud to have played there. My fondest memory from high school was playing in downtown Freeport under the lights on Fridays with my friends that I had grown up with. It was always a great atmosphere down there. And to sit back and look at it now, it is really special and I’ll never forget those times.

Q: Do you still able to play other sports, including basketball, during your free time?

A: I love playing basketball still; during the offseason, I try to play as much as I can. I really enjoy it.

Q: Have you seen or been to a game at the new Freeport football field, and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

A: I actually was able to train on the field in the summer a little bit before I came back to Cleveland for camp. It’s a great stadium and it’s really nice. I was able to catch a game during our bye week last month, as well. It was a great atmosphere for the home opener. It’s much different from the old stadium downtown and it’ll be tough to get used to but its growing on me already.

Q: Who is your favorite pro athlete?

A: My favorite pro athlete is Antonio Brown.

Q: Do you have a favorite song or genre to get you prepared for a football game?

A: I get really nervous before football games so I like to listen to music that will calm me down rather than pump me up. It’s a little unorthodox but I like it.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: My favorite food is chicken.

Q: What is the best advice you could give to an incoming freshman athlete?

A: My best advice for an incoming freshman athlete would definitely be to enjoy yourself. Remember why you play the game, because you love it. Never lose sight of that or let someone take that away from you. Time flies by to make the most of every opportunity you get.

Q: Are you wearing a Halloween costume this year? And do you have a favorite costume of all time, either that you’ve worn yourself, or seen?

A: I’ll probably wear a Halloween costume this year; undecided on what it will be though. My favorite costume would have to be last year’s. My girlfriend and I dressed up as Squints and Wendy Peffercorn from the Sandlot – it was a real hit.

Tags: Freeport