Lacrosse
Favorite athlete: Chase Utley
Favorite team: Philadelphia Phillies
Favorite memory competing in sports: Beating Kennett Square in the first round of playoffs this year.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: “I once scored on myself in an indoor game while I had a shutout. The ball came out of my stick when I went to throw it and rolled into our own net.”
Music on iPod: Almost every kind of music.
Future plans: Graduate from Navy and serve our country while seeing the world.
Words to live by: “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” – Jim Valvano
One goal before turning 30: Start a family
One thing people don’t know about me: I can do a split.
By GORDON GLANTZ
When Central Bucks South upended Kennett in the first round of the District One AAAA boys lacrosse playoffs Tuesday, the sense of accomplishment was more than what met the eye.
It was history in the making.
The win was a testament to all the members of the 2013 class, the guys who dedicated themselves to lacrosse first and foremost, and especially to their backbone and spiritual leader, goalie Ryan Kelly, who made a season-high 22 saves – surpassing 800 for his career -- in the semi-upset.
A program that once struggled to win a few games per season had found itself winning in the postseason for the first time since the school’s doors opened.
The mercurial squad improved to 14-6 while earning a meeting against top-seeded Radnor.
While Red Raiders may see themselves as heavy favorites, but they also know they will have to get through a stingy defense and top-shelf goalie first.
“Ryan is a huge part of our turnaround,” said Titan coach Mike Sharman of Kelly, the Univest Featured Athlete of the Week. “He is an amazing goalie. He averages about 13 saves per game and we have allowed around six goals per game, which is really good compared to previous years.”
But there is more to Kelly than just a solid and oft-spectacular lacrosse goalie.
As evidenced by his recent appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where only one in every five to 10 applicants who earn a nomination by a member of the Congress or Senate is even accepted, the team captain is a rare breed.
“My captains have to be good citizens,” added Sharman. “It’s not just about being a star player. You have to be a star person, too, and that’s Ryan. He is the captain because of his leadership skills.
“In lacrosse, as the goalie, you are the quarterback of the defense. By nature, you have to be vocal out there. But he is also a leader by example. He holds himself accountable. He has had good games, some absolutely amazing games and games where he would be the first to tell you that he could have done better. He is always striving to improve. You can’t ask for anything more than that. The kids love him, and respect him.
“As coaches and players, we are just fortunate to have been around him. He is a real consistent kind of a kid. He always has a smile on his face.”
Interestingly, Kelly was not a lifelong lacrosse player, as his first love was baseball. He was a catcher, which involved similar disciplines to playing goalie in lacrosse.
“While I try to lead more by example, it’s a lot like playing catcher,” said the Midshipman-in-waiting. “A catcher also has to command the field. It’s something I don’t think about, it just happens.
“As far as being a leader goes, I just try to be the best citizen I can be.”
Kelly was the backstop for a Warrington team that reached the Cal Ripken state title game, but he caught the lacrosse bug in middle school.
As a ninth grader, on a different campus, his choice was to be a jayvee catcher or a varsity goalie.
“I just started to focus on lacrosse, and everything just fell into place,” said Kelly.
Since then, there has been no looking back; no regrets.
Particularly gratifying has been playing a central role in the program’s about-face under Sharman’s guidance.
“It has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Kelly. “I always saw there was potential, starting with the kids in the Class of 2013, to make something special happen.”
Before this year’s breakthrough, the Titans went from two wins in 2010 to three in 2011 before narrowly missing the playoffs last season with eight wins.
“We all went through the tough times, but I know I never doubted myself,” said Kelly. “There has been an amazing amount of dedication this year. The big difference, from past years, is that lacrosse was a secondary sport for a lot of the kids.
“The new coaching staff has done a phenomenal job. It’s been incredible for us to come up and be competitive.”
Kelly fulfilled more than just his hopes for the Titan lacrosse team this season. A personal dream was also realized when he was accepted into the Naval Academy, where he plans to major in engineering and looks forward to the mandatory minimum of five years of service that will follow.
“It’s a great opportunity to serve your county,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back.
“I was thrilled (to be accepted). Not a lot of people get to realize their dreams.”
The first seed was planted by a youth basketball coach, Chris Mosher.
“He laid it all out for me, and I was hooked,” said Kelly. “He talked about the brotherhood you attain with the people there, and how it’s something you can’t match at other places.
“The idea was introduced before lacrosse was even in the picture. This is just the cherry on top, getting to go there and to also play lacrosse.”
Added Sharman: “It takes a special person, in today’s world, to want to go to the Naval Academy. He wants to make a difference.”
Kelly sent in his application in the summer, kicking off what he called “the longest process” as “stuff kept coming in the mail.”
“Originally, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my lacrosse career,” he said. “I sent the Naval Academy my highlight video, and they pretty much said I wasn’t good enough. While I started to form some other options, it was in the back of my mind that I knew I want to go (to the Naval Academy).”
By this time, other Division I schools were in serious pursuit of Kelly's talents, including Princeton, St. Joseph, Dartmouth, Holy Cross, Air Force and Binghamton. Topping Kelly's list of Division III schools was Amherst.
Then, one day, the phone rang. Navy coach Rick Sowell, who had built programs at Dartmouth and St. John’s, was on the other end. He had seen Kelly play – live - and was impressed.
“Basically, he said you can’t always tell how good a person is on tape,” recalled Kelly, who said Navy, traditionally strong, is coming off a bit of a down year but will be rebuilding, much like C.B. South did around him.
“To see this team grow, it’s been great,” he said. “We’re seeing it pay off, from the work we did – in winter and summer leagues.
“It’s been a fun ride.”
