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01/10/2018 11:00 PMRoan Sullivan worked his way into an important role with the Valley Regional-Old Lyme football team throughout his four seasons. Roan recently finished his career with the Warriors, who won nine games made the playoffs for the third time in his tenure this past fall. Roan was a tight end on offense, but shined brightest on defense by playing both defensive end and outside linebacker. In the 2017 campaign, he recorded 69 tackles and a team-leading seven sacks to win Valley’s Most Valuable Defensive Player Award and earn All-Pequot Honorable Mention for the second straight year. He was also named to the New London Day’s All-Area Team as a linebacker.
Roan has experienced many big moments as a member of the Warriors, including a state championship in his freshman year. Being on the field during those momentous games had a huge impact on Roan, who finds it especially satisfying that he accomplished so much alongside his close friends.
“Winning the state championship as a freshman was cool for me...Not many people get to experience that in their four years, and I came in as a wide-eyed freshman and had the ability to play in games throughout the year. I got to play in the semifinal game, as well,” says Roan, a Centerbrook resident. “Another big moment for me was winning a playoff game my junior year when we beat Berlin, and my senior year was big for me to be 9-1 and make the playoffs. It meant a lot to do it with the group I did, because we’re all very close. It’s a tight-knit group of people.”
While he played both sides of the ball, Roan excelled as one of Valley’s defensive leaders with longtime teammate and fellow senior Blair Allen. They were the primary communicators for the Warriors’ defense, and Roan was proud to have that responsibility.
“I’ve played with Blair since 1st grade. I also did the play-calling with him. We were the two vocal leaders for the defense,” Roan says. “It’s a very special thing for me. It’s very important to me. I did it my junior year, as well. I had one side of the field, and he had the other. So it made it easier to communicate to both sides of the defense.”
Head Coach Tim King presented Roan with the Warriors’ Defensive Player of the Year award on two occasions, including this past season. King and defensive coordinator Bobby Sanchez depended on Roan to provide a stabilizing presence on the field when the opposition had the ball.
“He’s started since his sophomore year. Roan was one of our mainstays in Coach Sanchez’s defense. He’s a real important part of it. He plays to the field and, in certain formations, he would be in special spots where the offense had tendencies,” King says. “Over the course of the past three years, he’s been one of our leading players. He was one of our Defensive Players of the Year, he made [the New London Day’s All-Area Team], and he’s a good student, as well.”
Roan was often able to disrupt the opposing quarterback, regardless of his positioning. Roan could get behind the line of scrimmage to make an impact, and he always got a thrill from closing in on the other team’s field general.
“If I’m outside linebacker, the coach will blitz me in certain gaps, and we do stunts with our defense. If I’m walked up, I can generally speed rush the tackle and beat him with a couple of hand movements like a swim or a swipe and get to the quarterback that way,” says Roan, who’s 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. “A sack is definitely important. It changes momentum for the game. It’s an exciting moment when I get there, and I know that I’ve got him.”
In addition to his work on the gridiron, Roan also plays defender for the Valley Regional boys’ lacrosse squad. Roan enjoys both sports, but he especially likes the challenge of trying to stop an offense on the football field.
“I like being able to read the team. On offense, you know you’re running a route, or the block is set up for me, or I’m blocking to spring the running back. On defense, you read the offensive personnel,” Roan says. “It’s a more challenging aspect. I like to make a big play to get the ball back to our offense and give them the opportunity to score.”
Roan’s father Matt Sullivan played a major role in his decision to play football. Roan wanted to emulate what his father did as a high-school football player, and he became completely enamored with the sport as a result.
“I always had a football in my hand growing up. My dad played football in high school, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Roan says. “When I started, my passion for it took off. It’s an important part of my life.”
Roan’s mother Kerry Sullivan, who passed away when he was five, is also a huge part of what he does on the football field. Prior to every game, Roan took time to honor his mother and her memory.
“Before each game, I dedicate my performance, and I say a prayer to my mom. I wear a cross and a St. Anne pendant. It’s a memory and dedication to her. My junior and senior year, I wore customized cleats in her honor, as well,” says Roan. “Even though she never got to see me play in person, I know she was watching over me throughout my years in football and keeping me safe.”
Roan hopes that he and his fellow seniors on the Valley-Old Lyme football team have set a good example, just like the seniors who preceded them. Looking to the future, Roan will move on to college, where he will major in business and finance and aim to fulfill his dream of playing at the collegiate level.
“Seeing the example those seniors set for us, we hope the juniors who take over next year look and take what we’ve done and try to recreate it and get back to the playoffs and even win another state championship for this program,” Roan says. “I’m going to college next year, and I would like to play in college...I’ve wanted to keep going as far as I can. To play in college would be a big thing, and it’s a goal of mine that I’ve had since I was a freshman.”