Last summer, Freedom girls’ soccer coach Bob Eaton met with players Katie Flynn, Lily Judge, and Doris Muncan, telling them they had a good chance to go far in the upcoming season.

“We laughed at him,” Flynn admitted.

But Coach knew best and the Patriots won the District XI championship.

“It was definitely unforgettable,” said Flynn, Bethlehem Press’s and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s female Athlete of the Year from Freedom High School. “There is not a single day I would change, and we left everything out on that field.”

A natural leader since before high school, Flynn, a forward, was one of four captains on the girls’ soccer team.

“She truly leads by example, both on and off the field, and when needed will speak up to ensure everyone on the team is focused, working together, and is as committed to the team’s success as she is. Furthermore she is extremely coachable and when necessary takes on the role of an on- the-field coach during games,” said Coach Eaton.

“Katie was an integral part of the Freedom girl’s team’s success in that she was a true two-way player, being heavily involved in creating both scoring opportunities and winning the ball as well as playing solid defense, especially in stopping and slowing down opponents’ attempts for quick transitions. She possess well above average speed, quickness, agility, and balance and has good strength for someone her size.”

Flynn also played lacrosse for the Patriots and will continue to play for the Temple Owls when she goes to college this fall.

“Katie has exceptional speed and stick skills,” said Coach Chris Innarella. “She has a relentless pursuit to be the best and instills that same intense drive and work ethic into her teammates. She has an arsenal of fakes and can change levels to move the most advanced goalies.”

Flynn holds the Freedom school record of 230 goals and 282 points.

“I didn’t really notice [the record] until the game of, when my coach pulled me aside and said, ‘You need three goals,’” said Flynn.

Breaking that record meant a lot to Flynn because her former teammate, Emily Rowan, held that record when Flynn was a freshman and Rowan was a senior.

Flynn, however, didn’t get to have her senior lacrosse season when the coronavirus shut down all spring sports in the midst of pre-season practices.

“Everything we did, we felt so strong, and then to have the season get cut off was just so hard,” she said. “We felt like it was going to be our best season ever.”

Coach Innarella could feel it too.

“In 2019 we ended one game short of the championship in both EPC and Districts and that did not sit well with Katie. She wanted to achieve that same greatness with her lacrosse teammates as she did in soccer, and there was no stopping her and our team,” said Innarella. “That was the goal this year, and this was the team we all believed could make it happen.”

One way Flynn coped with the shutdown was to make a virtual video with her teammates.

“It was a shot to the heart, the sport I love the most, and I wasn’t going to be able to play with my teammates again,” she said. “It was nice to see everybody in the video, stick in their hand, that they still cared and our team didn’t give up.”

While desire, drive, and dedication describe Flynn well, Coach Eaton will miss Katie.

“Personally I will miss Katie’s smile, her wit, and the constant humorous sarcasm we shared back and forth with each other at practice,” he said.

In addition to being a great team leader, Coach Innarella called Flynn a really good person who cares about her teammates.

“I take it as the team looks up to me, but I’m at the same level as they are,” said Flynn. “I’m there for them. I’ll put them on my shoulders and climb up a mountain for my team. I’ll do anything for them.”