Pirates' Alumni Profile: Brandon Rooney

Each week, we will be taking time out to get to know an alumnus from the Cinnaminson High School Athletic Department. In this segment, Cinnaminson sports editor Jim Vassallo spoke with former boys’ soccer player and current Gwynedd-Mercy student Brandon Rooney about his time at Cinnaminson, how he chose which college to attend, and what he likes about the soccer program.

Cinnaminson Patch: What is your major?

Brandon Rooney: Nursing 

Patch: What stood out about Gwynedd-Mercy?

Rooney: Gwynedd-Mercy stood out because of their nursing program. 

Patch: What stood out about the soccer program at Gwynedd-Mercy?

Rooney: It is a good group of guys and it was a chance for me to keep playing the game I love. 

Patch: What was the transition like from high school to college level soccer when you were a freshman?

Rooney: The transition from high school to college was fun for me because now you get to live with the guys you are playing with. Also the game changes in that it gets a lot more physical.  

Patch: What have you enjoyed the most about playing college soccer?

Rooney: Traveling, making new friends, and gaining the experience that I can pass on to younger players one day.

Patch: How did Cinnaminson Coach Dent prepare you for college, either in the classroom or on the field?

Rooney: Coach Dent prepared me for college both in the classroom and on the field by instilling a good work ethic. Every day we knew we had to perform to a certain level and he always pushed up to get there. He always kept us grounded and helped up to keep a level head. We always prepared the same way for every game whether it was a preseason scrimmage or the state final.

Patch: What is your most memorable moment on the field in high school?

Rooney: Winning the South Jersey Final in 2007 against Delran, who we had lost to earlier in the season. 

Patch: What has been your most memorable moment on the college field so far?

Rooney: Scoring my first college career goal against Holy Family.

Patch: What are your goals for the season this year?

Rooney: To finish top 4 of the conference and get a home playoff game.

Patch: What aspect of your game did you work on during the off-season?

Rooney: Mostly fitness. I had taken a year off before joining the team at Gwynedd so it involved a lot of running and getting touches on the ball.

Patch: What was the most important thing you learned from Coach Dent while in the program?

Rooney: How to truly love the game, he showed us how to make the game fun.

Patch: What was the most important thing you learned from your teammates while at Cinnaminson?

Rooney: Always push yourself, we played every practice as if it was a game.

Patch: If you could give one piece of advice to this year's seniors in Cinnaminson's men’s' soccer program, what would it be?

Rooney: Take it one game a time. Give it everything you have so that at the end of the season you know you left nothing behind.