Windham graduate Braxton Cassidy’s work ethic taking him far

Windham High graduate Braxton Cassidy suits up for Bridgton
Academy during a game against Naval Academy Preparatory
School on Sept. 28, 2019. PHOTO BY EZRA SMITH 

By Matt Pascarella 

In the summer of 2019, Windham senior Braxton Cassidy was the only player chosen from the Windham varsity football team to play in the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic. In that game he was a co-captain for his team, but it wasn’t easy to get there.

In his junior year, he had set a goal to play football at a NCAA Division 1 school but wasn’t eligible and in order to gain eligibility, he needed to improve is overall Grade Point Average.

Cassidy attended Bridgton Academy for his first year of college and was able to get his grades up the same way he approaches football - through hard work and dedication.

Once he was accepted to Bridgton Academy, he was able to play football while he worked on his GPA. While at Bridgton Academy, he was heavily recruited by NCAA Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 schools.

“If a coach from Windham called up and said we got a kid like Braxton Cassidy, I’d take him in a heartbeat,” said now-retired Head Bridgton Academy Football Coach Rick Marcella.

Marcella described Braxton as having a dynamic personality and said that Cassidy was in it to win it, was driven and motivated and that carried over from the playing field to the classroom.

Marcella said Cassidy challenged himself and in the process the kids who played next to him and the kid across the line of scrimmage. A kid on defense knew that if they were lined up against Cassidy, they couldn’t take a play off. 

Once Cassidy became eligible to play Division 1 football, he chose Central Connecticut State College because they have an outstanding football program along with a strong academic program.

“Braxton ... without a doubt works his butt off to be the best lineman he can,” said CCSU junior and teammate Tyler Logan. “The hard work and success that he has on the field only motivates the guys around him.”

Logan said Cassidy is very supportive of his teammates especially when they need it. Cassidy’s work ethic is a great motivator for Logan to come out and work hard every day.

“It is important for me to put in so much hard work because that's what coaches notice and that's what got me noticed,” said Cassidy. “One thing that all my coaches have said about me is that I'm a hard worker.”

While attending CCSU, Cassidy is majoring in exercise science. He said that he plans to use his degree to be a strength and conditioning coach either at the college or the high school level.

Cassidy said ever since he experienced eligibility issues it’s been very important to him to stay on top of his grades; he thinks he’s done a good job of doing that in college.

He continues to succeed off the field. Last fall, Cassidy made the college’s Dean’s List and during a very busy season this past spring, he was able to maintain a 3.16 GPA.

His goal for this upcoming season is to play in six or more games, continue to improve his game and win the conference championship for CCSU. He’s going to continue to master the techniques he’s learned at CCSU.

Cassidy’s advice to high school students who would like to achieve what he’s achieved whether in football or another sport is to stay humble, work hard, show respect to both coaches and teammates and never stop trying to achieve what you want.

“If I quit at the first thing that went wrong, I would never have gotten the opportunity play at CCSU,” said Cassidy.

When he’s not on the football field, Cassidy enjoys playing video games and watching YouTube and movies. When he has free time, he plays lacrosse with his girlfriend, Amy. <