By Mitch Silver

Rye High School junior Tommy Broderick put on one of the greatest individual athletic performances of any Lions Club honoree — ever — and against archrival Harrison, on October 12. That day, the Garnets traveled to Harrison to take on the Huskies, a team they’d previously edged at home, 3-2, in overtime. Broderick, a striker, went on a tear and scored every one of the Garnets’ six goals…in the first 40 minutes. He sat out the second half of Rye’s 6-0 victory.

For the season, Broderick netted 23 goals and assisted on 12 more for the Class A semifinalists, earning him All-Section recognition, as well as the Athlete of the Month honor from the Rye Lions Club and the Rye High Athletic Department for October.

Head Coach Jared Small had this to say in nominating his top goal scorer: “Tommy had a breakout season. He scored in a variety of ways, using his athleticism and keen sense of timing to finish with his head, generate breakaways, and manufacture opportunities in and around the six-yard box. Tommy also proved to be great at initiating the press, blending work rate and speed to dispossess opponents in the final third.”

Coach Small continued, “His unselfishness also helped him set up many tap-in goals for teammates, who benefitted from his clever passing in the box. In the month of October alone, Tommy recorded nine goals and seven assists, highlighted by two goals and two assists in a huge 4-3 win over Eastchester to secure us a share of the league title before we clinched it as sole champions in the next game. He had a ‘hat trick’ of assists at John Jay-Cross River. And, of course, he had all six goals at Harrison, a remarkable performance in a big rivalry match.”

Broderick also plays hockey and baseball for Rye and earned a youth league referee’s license in hockey by completing a seven-hour course. He said, “Youth sports are very important to me. I was once like those kids, looking up to the big high schoolers, and couldn’t wait to be them one day. I am so glad I am able to help the community and grow youth sports in Rye.”

In making its monthly selections, The Lions Club factors in academic as well as athletic achievement. Tommy Broderick has a 95 GPA after two years, and is currently taking Advanced Placement courses in Biology, U.S. History, and Psychology. Asked to name his favorite courses and teachers, he ticked off several. “Mr. Szarchowicz’ U.S. History class, Mrs. Jones’ ninth-grade History, and Miss Blanch’s math class — they were all really interesting.”

Tommy hails from an athletic family. His dad played football and baseball at Trinity in Connecticut. His mom, who went to Drew in New Jersey, played lacrosse and field hockey. “My older sister Molly is captain of the soccer and lacrosse teams at Trinity, my sister Maggie is an athlete at Holy Cross, and my younger brother is a jock as well,” he noted.

Who does he thank for his success on the athletic field? “Coach Small, naturally. He’s terrific. Coach Charney in baseball. Brian Landy, the hockey coach for my club team. And my folks, of course.”

Asked what there is about him even his friends don’t know, Tommy thought a moment before offering: “I guess it’s how much I care. Not just about doing well in sports, but in the classroom as well.”

Which college has he set his sights on, Tommy shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m still only a junior, so I have time to decide.”

This win makes Tommy eligible to attend the Lions Club year-end luncheon honoring all the monthly winners, and to appear on the ballot for Rye’s Athlete of the Year.