Get to know All Saints Catholic HS football player Ryan McDonell
BAY CITY, Mich. — Ryan McDonell, the son of Cathy and Daniel McDonell of Bay City, is 17 years old and the youngest in his family, which includes three siblings: Cassidy, Caitlyn, and Daniel. Ryan is currently a member of the Senior Class of All Saints Catholic High School, where he has established a GPA of 4.098. Ryan has participated in football, basketball, and bowling during high school, and he is currently playing his fourth year of Varsity football. He hopes to play football at the collegiate level, as well.
Two of Ryan’s favorite mottos are “Take life day by day,” and “Never give up.” Both of these reminders have been essential to him this year, as he tore his ACL during the third game of his senior year, ending his season and requiring significant surgery and a nine-month recovery and physical therapy period. His injury has led to his greatest challenges – thinking positively, keeping his mental health strong, and working to stay in shape physically. One mistake Ryan recalls making in the past is not staying consistent in training during the off-season, and this past summer he worked especially hard to maintain that consistency.
The best piece of advice he has ever received, he believes, was given by SVSU linebacker coach Jeremy Prudhomme: “E+R=O,” meaning an Event that occurs, plus how you Respond to that event will equal your Outcome.
One of the things Ryan likes best about being on a football team is the family it creates, including both team and community members. He believes that being a member of a team has taught him trust and communication skills within his team community. All Saints Catholic High School Athletic Director Greg Wagner says of Ryan, “He is a born leader who gives his best effort in everything he does. His tremendous work ethic, on the field and in the classroom, is an inspiration.”
Before games, Ryan likes to listen to NLE Choppa and Vance Joy, and his pregame routine includes eating a lot the day before the game and having an energy drink before the game. He would describe himself as a hard-working guy who likes to make people smile. Outside of his sport, he likes to go to the gym and lift weights, and his favorite snack food is Reese’s. He also enjoys watching NFL football, going “Up-North” to his family’s cottage near Houghton Lake, spending time with his dog Rascal and his cat Oreo, and hanging out with friends. He is also very interested in Japanese culture.
Active in extracurriculars, Ryan is a four-year member and current vice president of the Executive Board of Student Council, president of the Yellow Ribbon Club, and co-president of the National Honor Society. He is a member of Corpus Christi Parish, and he has participated in Youth Leadership Bay County, as well as the YES- Youth Encounter Service Program. During his high school football career, he was the recipient of two Golden Helmet Awards, sponsored by the Bay City Times and Coca-Cola.
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