Rye High senior captain and all-everything midfielder Kieran Traynor was named the Garnets’ initial Player of the Week for the 2023-24 school year. His coach, Jared Small, describes the contributions that garnered the award.

“Kieran earned this for a week in which he had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Haldane, three assists in a 5-0 win over Gorton, and a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Harrison.  

“He was instrumental in each of these wins, filling the role of playmaker in the middle of the pitch and winning some key aerial battles (his assist against Haldane came via a flicked header that Tommy Broderick then finished with his own head). 

“Kieran is a senior captain who is passionate about the game, and his contributions helped propel us to a strong start to the season. He is great in tight spaces and has displayed intelligence and vision in the center of the midfield,” summed up Coach Small.

Kieran described his exemplary week this way: “After the disappointing way our junior season ended, with a loss to Tappan Zee in the playoffs, the whole team was motivated to get off to a great start this season. We scored a couple of early goals against Haldane and held on for the win. And, of course, we’re always motivated against Harrison.”

Coach Small’s squad stumbled the following week, dropping games to two undefeated Section 1 powers — Tappan Zee (again!) and Eastchester — before righting the ship with wins against Woodlands, Pelham, and Yorktown. The team gets another crack against Eastchester in the regular season, “and we hope to face Tappan Zee again in the playoffs,” Traynor added.

The fourth of his siblings to star on the soccer field for Rye, Kieran honed his skills early, thanks to his father, who played the game at Villanova. Kieran’s older brother Sean plays varsity soccer for Tufts, his brother Michael plays at Trinity in Hartford, and his sister Reilly plays for Bucknell. Kieran’s own college plans are still up in the air, but he’s leaning toward a career in finance.

Asked who he wished to thank for this Player of the Week honor, Kieran immediately replied, “My teammates. And of course Coach Small. And my dad, for introducing me to the game.”