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| Myron Lewis is one of North Central's 38 seniors, and even if he doesn't start, he has a key role to play for the Cardinals regardless. North Central athletics photos by Steve Woltmann |
By Greg Thomas
D3football.com
At the heart of North Central College’s football program’s success lies more than just raw talent and decorated stars. While the spotlight often shines on household names such as four-year starting quarterback Luke Lehnen, one of the most accomplished players in Division III history, and so many other award-winning athletes, the foundation of North Central’s dominance extends far deeper. It’s built on the collective contributions of an entire roster, including role players whose efforts often go unnoticed outside of the Cardinal locker room.
“Having 38 seniors really helps,” said Lehnen, the reigning Gagliardi Trophy winner and finalist for the 2024 award. “Not just the people who start or you see their name in the paper, but the guys that are doing the dirty work. When every single senior is owning up to their responsibility, things tend to work out for the team.”
Head coach Brad Spencer echoes that sentiment. “We’re seeing the senior class really own their piece of the puzzle,” Spencer said. “It’s not about four captains; it’s about having 38 captains, and our seniors have really bought into that.”
Among those 38 seniors, graduate student Myron Lewis and wide receiver Jake Lynch stand out, not for the snaps they’ve played but for the impact they’ve made in other ways. Together, they embody the spirit of a program where everyone — from starters to reserves — plays a vital role.
As a defensive tackle, Myron Lewis plays behind John Sullivan, a standout who has been recognized as the 2024 CCIW Defensive Player of the Year and D3football.com Region 5 Defensive Player of the Year. Yet Lewis’ contributions to North Central’s success extend far beyond his snaps on the field, even if we don’t keep official stats on leadership.
“I do my best when I need to get things done and when things aren’t being executed at the high level we demand,” Lewis said. “I voice that and show it as well. If my teammates aren’t truly understanding what the coaches are explaining, I’ll try to put it in simpler terms so we all get it.”
Lewis’ leadership resonates across the roster. His focus on the small details has made him an invaluable presence during practice. “Especially at the line of scrimmage, you can miss your hands by two inches and you’ll lose the rep,” Lewis explained. “You can step the wrong way. Your eyes can go down. It’s small details that our defensive line coach, Coach (DJ) Warkenthein, and our offensive line coach, Coach (Eric) Stuedemann, do a great job of emphasizing and making sure we’re paying attention to.”
By reinforcing these fundamentals, Lewis helps ensure the team executes at the highest level.
For Lewis, North Central football is more than a game — it’s a family. “It’s meant a lot over the last five years,” he said. “I came here understanding that I wanted to be great. I wanted to be an all-american husband, teammate, and son. Just to be the best version of myself. And I know that the coaching staff has helped me over the last five years, and my teammates, everybody that I've encountered over the last five years has impacted my life.”
Through his leadership and presence, Lewis embodies the selflessness and determination that are characteristic of North Central’s culture. “Not everybody’s going to start or get playing time,” he said. “But even the guys who don’t dress on Saturdays play a big, important role for us Monday through Sunday.”
Jake Lynch’s career has largely unfolded in a reserve role within North Central’s deep and talented wide receiver corps. While he’s recorded just 11 receptions in his career, like Lewis, Lynch’s value to the Cardinals during their five-year run of dominance isn’t always found in box scores.
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| Jake Lynch's contributions come on special teams and in occasional reps at wide receiver. |
“Special teams is great for field position and really impacting the game positively,” Lynch said. “If you win special teams, you’ve got a great chance to win a game.”
Lynch plays on all four special teams units, but his experience has also been a valuable resource in the receiver room. As one of the oldest players in the group, Lynch has embraced a mentoring role, leveraging his knowledge to help younger receivers study and understand opposing defenses. “Making sure we’re all on the same page, knowing defenses’ tendencies, their guys in the back end and what they like to do,” he explained.
For Lynch, the rewards of his time at North Central go beyond wins and championships. “The relationships I’ve built with teammates and coaches are the most rewarding part of my time here,” he said. “It's been great seeing guys just grow, especially in the receiver room. Seeing Thomas Skokna, what he's really been able to do this year. I saw him come in as a freshman and he's a totally different person now as a football player, a person, physically, mentally, everything like that. Seeing guys grow over time is one of the biggest rewards I get to see being an older guy.”
Lynch’s advice to younger players reflects his journey. “Just stick with it,” he said. “The meetings, waking up early for lifts and practice is going to be hard. Sometimes you could have more meetings with only players. So you’ve really got to live it. Just enjoy the process that comes with it and everything that's going to come, the ebbs and flows, the ups and downs of being a D-III athlete.”
Both Lewis and Lynch speak passionately about the brotherhood within the program. “It’s the opportunities that we all continue to have each and every day that brings us close together as a family,” Lewis said. “I've loved every minute I've been here through the ups and downs, through the challenging times in the off season. I wouldn't give it up for the world. If I had the opportunity, I would do this again in a heartbeat.”
Lynch shared similar sentiments. “Being around those guys every single day for the last four or five years, I think has really elevated me and I've grown so much as a person. Obviously as a football player as well, but more as a person than anything else.” he said.
North Central’s sustained excellence isn’t just the result of its stars shining brightly. It’s the effort of players like Lewis, Lynch and so many others who — through leadership, preparation, and a commitment to their teammates and brothers — ensure that the program’s foundation remains strong. They exemplify the spirit of a championship-caliber team, showing that success is built on contributions from everyone, whether they’re in the starting lineup or not.
As the Cardinals prepare for their fifth consecutive national title game, their roster’s depth and unity remain their greatest strengths. And for players like Myron Lewis and Jake Lynch, their legacy will endure not in box scores, but in the bonds they’ve forged and the standards they’ve upheld.