Rachel Lynch making great strides playing basketball in the USA

Former Brunell star Rachel Lynch spent last year playing her basketball at Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Connecticut, with the goal of earning a college scholarship.

She achieved that milestone.

Lynch’s head coach Greg Canzater was always reaching out to college coaches and many of them would come watch her play during open gyms, where her team just play and showcase their skills. 

Then, an AAU coach Aaron Hall, who is based in Connecticut knew the coaches at Le Moyne and he mentioned Rachel’s name to other coaches after she came to the United States.

“My coach from Putnam, Greg got in touch with Le Moyne’s coach Nick DiPillo and that’s how the connection with my new college started,” Rachel said.

“Then one of their assistants came to watch me play at an open gym and after multiple phone calls after, they eventually invited me for an official visit to see the campus.

“Last year was without a doubt the best year of my life. 

"Between moving away, diving deeper into basketball and making new friends, it was a year full of growth and unforgettable experiences. 

"It wasn’t easy with the early morning conditioning sessions and long hours in the gym were tough, but all of it was necessary to help me get to college.

“I'm settling into my new surroundings okay, however, I’ll much admit it’s been harder than last year. 

“Between not knowing anyone, missing my family and adjusting to a new city and environment, it's been a lot to take in. 

"On top of that, trying to balance college academics with basketball has definitely been more demanding."

Rachel is now playing in the NCCA Division 1 in the Northeast Conference and she is finding the whole experience a lot different from playing Prep School last year.

“Our school competes at NCAA Division 1 level, which is the highest level of college athletics in the United States. 

“We are a proud member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), where we go up against strong competition both regionally and nationally. 

"Being part of a Division 1 program means a high level of commitment, intensity and pride both on and off the court.

“This year playing college ball is a major step up, because every player is stronger, faster, more skilled and more experienced and the pace is quicker, and the margin for error is much smaller.

“You're now a student-athlete, and you're expected to handle a full academic load while meeting high athletic demands, practice, travel, games, film, weight training, and study hall.

“Last year, we had a lot of international players on my team and throughout the school, which made the environment feel much more welcoming and familiar. 

"But here in college, there are very few internationals in my new school.

“One of the biggest adjustments I had to make when I started playing in the US compared to back home was the pace and physicality of the game. 

"Everything here is faster , players are more athletic and the game is played at a much higher tempo. 

"I had to get used to making quicker decisions, especially under pressure and being more aggressive on both ends of the floor. 

"Another major adjustment was the structure and intensity of the training. 

"In the U.S., basketball feels like a full-time job with early morning workouts, weight room sessions, film study and long practices. 

"Back home, things were still serious, but not to this level of day-in, day-out commitment.

“Off the court, I also had to adjust to being away from home, dealing with homesickness, adapting to a different culture and style of life. 

"But those challenges helped me grow and not just as a player, but as a person."

Lynch was also busy last summer playing with the Ireland U20 team in the European Championships that were played in Hungary under coaches Karl Kilbride, Paul Carr and Mitchell Clarke.

“Playing with the Ireland U20 women’s team this summer in Hungary was an amazing experience.

“We competed in a tough tournament and finished seventh overall, which was a solid result given the level of competition. 

"We had some memorable games beating Ukraine twice, including an eight point win in the later stages and a big victory over Great Britain.

“We also faced some tough challenges, with close losses to Bulgaria, Serbia, and a narrow four point defeat to Greece. 

"Those games really showed me the intensity and skill level needed to compete at this stage.

“I learned so much about teamwork, resilience and staying focused even when the games were tight and it’s always a great privilege to represent Ireland,” Lynch added.