By Mark Humphrey
ENTERPRISE-LEADER
FARMINGTON -- Looking back at 2014 Farmington Male Athlete of the Year Michael Ryan developed into his potential as an offensive lineman through the Cardinal football program.
Ryan, who has now walked on at Southern Arkansas University, at Magnolia, demonstrated tremendous improvement during his high school career while playing for Farmington. As a sophomore Ryan was part of a Cardinal team that went 11-3 reaching the 4A state semifinals. His footwork was good as a junior and then as a senior he increased his strength by bulking up in the weight room.
"He always had good feet, but he finally added that dimension of strength through a lot of hard work in the spring and summer before his senior year," said Farmington head football coach Mike Adams.
Ryan said the influence of upper classmen from the 2011 team helped him along the way.
"As I look back on it there were some great leaders on that team, that taught me a lot going into my junior and senior seasons. You have to have great leaders to win important games that matter."
The Cardinals defeated Dumas, 42-6, at home, then went on the road winning, 28-12, at Heber Springs and 26-23 at McGehee before losing in the state semifinals, 49-25, at Malvern. That level of success was not replicated during his junior and senior years although the Cardinals qualified for the playoffs both years.
A three-sport letterman, Ryan played basketball in the winter and threw the shotput in the spring as part of Farmington's track and field squad. He helped the Cardinals achieve a share of the 4A-1 boys basketball conference crown in 2013-14, runner-up placing in the district tourney and Regional berth.
"I knew going in for basketball I was expected to go ahead and do my job. Berryville and Gravette had great post players. Coach [Beau Thompson] put me in to guard those players. I knew if I do my job it helps the team," Ryan said.
Agile on his feet as a big man tipping the scales at 270 pounds during his senior year, Ryan impressed his father, Larry, by taking away the dribble from an opposing point-guard, who underestimated his quickness.
"Michael had the ball and was dribbling the other way. The next time down he [the point-guard] didn't do that again," Larry Ryan said.
Ryan said Farmington head track and field coach Spencer Adams helped him develop his throwing technique while competing in the shot-put and his experience was enhanced by qualifying for the State 4A track and field meet as a senior.
"Up until then I had only been to conference. As a senior going to state was a great experience. I learned a lot from the other throwers," Ryan said.
Ryan was redshirted this past fall at SAU after earning a roster spot as a walk-on. He went to a summer camp and the SAU coaches kept in touch.
"I know my dream is play at least college football. The coaches down here [at SAU] told me I had a chance to walk on if I'd come down here. They asked for a film of my senior highlights. Then in the fall I came down here and walked on," Ryan said.
"I get to live my dream, I love it."
Sports on 01/21/2015