Girls Soccer: Lynch named IHSAA Mental Attitude Award Winner

Penn High School’s Kristina Lynch added to an All-American legacy when she was named the Indiana High School Athletic Association Mental Attitude Award winner following the Class 3-A State Championship Game at Butler University on Friday, Oct. 27.

Penn beat Guerin Catholic, 2-0, to repeat as State Champions.

Lynch, a Florida State University women’s soccer recruit, led Penn to three consecutive State Championship Games. Penn was state runner-up in 2015, won State Championships in 2016 and 2017.

A midfielder, Lynch owns the Penn career record with 130 goals and has a record 68 career assists. She has 44 goals and 18 assists this season.

Named a First-Team All-American by USA Today, Lynch has been invited to play in the All-American Game in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 2.

Lynch is the 26th IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner in Penn history.

“Kristina is a remarkable student athlete who is genuinely dedicated to making her teammates better,” Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher said. “She always shows commitment to her team and treats others with respect and dignity. She is the model teammate who represents her family and school with pride.”

Lynch is Penn’s eighth IHSAA Mental Attitude Award Winner since 2015.

“Kristina Lynch is the epitome of Penn’s commitment to education-based athletics and our commitment to the concept of a student-athlete,” Penn Athletic Director Aaron Leniski said. “She pursues excellence in the classroom and on the soccer field. We are proud of the way she has represented Penn, and in the outstanding legacy that she has carved out. She is an outstanding role model for our younger players.”

PENN IHSAA MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNERS

1983, Football (4-A), Mark Plencner

1989, Football (5-A), Eric Kline

1992, Girls Cross Country, Jill Nace

1995, Football (5-A), Matt Geesman

1996, Football (5-A), Scott Becker

1998, Baseball (4-A), Blake Gaugler

1997, Football (5-A), Brad Monhaut

1999, Boys Soccer, Matthew Abbott

2000, Football (5-A), Justin Smith

2003, Girls Tennis, Lauren Woodward

2003, Girls Golf, Casey North

2003, Football (5-A), Wade Iams

2004, Girls Cross Country, Laura Carr

2005, Boys Tennis, Chris Jordan

2011, Girls Basketball (4-A), Ashley Lutz

2011, Girls Golf, Deanna Song

2011, Volleyball (4-A), Kaitlyn Hickey

2011, Football (5-A), Patrick Adkins

2015, Wrestling, Chase Osborn

2015, Baseball (4-A), Tim Lira

2015, Soccer (2-A), Kamra Solomon

2016, Football (6-A), Camden Bohn

2016, Softball (4-A), Alyssa Griman

2016, Soccer (2-A), Alexis Marks

2017, Baseball (4-A), Trevor Waite

2017, Soccer (3-A) Kristina Lynch