Broderick Fitch- The Return to the Maroon and Gold

SEATTLE- Broderick Fitch, class of ’15 graduate who returned to O’Dea for one thing, to strengthen the young men who come through its halls.

O’Dea, though, wasn’t Fitch’s first choice on where to go to high school. It actually wasn’t on his list at all.

When Fitch was finishing up his 8th grade year at Washington Middle School his parents sat him down to tell him he’s heading to O’Dea next fall. The reason why was because his uncle was closely involved with St. James and Father Ryan and had told Fitch’s parents he’d pay for half of his tuition. So naturally, Fitch was being sent off to the all-boys school on 802 Terry Ave without question.

His freshman year was stellar, “All boys wasn’t a big adjustment, it’s basically only going to school with the guys,” he says.

He found his core group pretty quickly, mostly through freshmen football. He reminisces of Myles Gaskin (now a running back with the Miami Dolphins) tearing up other freshmen teams and trekking around Seattle to visit friends all over the 206.

During his sophomore year he had the absolute pleasure of having Mr. Anderson for health class. He remembers the times when Mr. Anderson would spray kids with water or the times he drove the freshman football bus to practice and games. Mr. Anderson has since retired, but his legacy lives on through the various stories students tell of him.

But heading into his senior year everything had changed; the first year of the house system had begun.

Fitch was placed in Mr. Balinbin’s mentor group, though he was kind of bummed about it. The three years leading up to his senior year he was ready for the privilege of the senior lounge and senior lockers.

“I was sad about it, I mean, all that time of thinking you’ll get the ultimate privilege and in the year that you would, it gets taken away,” he states. But of course, there was a bright side, “Mentor group enhanced the brotherhood,” he proclaims. “I think it brought a stronger bond to O’Dea, and I’m glad I experienced it.”

After high school, he knew he wanted to be part of a strength and conditioning program. So, he bounced around weight rooms, one of them being University of Washington’s Olympic weight room as an intern assistant trainer. He had the opportunity to work with all collegiate athletes of all types, most memorable being baseball, softball, crew, and football.

Working in the gym really was his calling, “It was tons of fun at UW. It really showed me the impact that us trainers have in the weight room,” he claims.

With his stint at UW, he went looking for some volunteer work at O’Dea. He heard of Coach Paynter, and how great of a strength and conditioning program he has developed.

This quickly turned into a job for Fitch. "It was just easy coming back, and doing something I’m passionate about,” he exclaims. Fitch is currently the assistant strength and conditioning coach and house dean of Waterford at O’Dea, but he has bigger plans.

In a couple more years, Fitch wants to be at the next level in terms of strength and conditioning. He’s striving to be at the collegiate level or professional level as a head coach or athletic director. Though he isn’t looking past O’Dea too far.

“It’s important for me that I make an impact on these guys, not only physically, but mentally, and it truly is a passion.”

Fitch plans on being at O’Dea for a few more years, and in that time, he wants to create a stronger O’Dea through and through.