Get to know Ramapo HS track & field athlete Ryan Welch
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Ryan Welch didn鈥檛 stumble upon joining the Ramapo High School Winter and Spring Track Teams, he ran for it.
鈥淚 have always enjoyed running and I have done a lot of that on the soccer field,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淚 have ran races with my dad Mark and brother Jack.鈥�
It was watching Jack run track at Bergen Catholic High School and now at College of the Holy Cross that inspired Ryan, a soccer player, to sprint over to the running track.
鈥淚 am a forward and outside winger on Ramapo鈥檚 boys soccer team. When you play soccer聽 you are always moving around and the running is nonstop,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淭hose running skills of endurance can be applied to track.鈥�
Joining the track team may also award you with bragging rights.
鈥淲atching Jack compete in college at that skill level I decided I wanted to be part of it,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also the brotherly competition to see if I can beat his times.鈥�
Ryan thinks his height, 6鈥� 2 1/2鈥�, is beneficial in competition.
鈥淗aving a long stride allows me to take fewer steps,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淪omeone I am competing with, who is shorter, has to take more steps and exert more energy.鈥�
Ryan currently runs the 800 meters race in 1:59 and the 1600 meters race in 4:31.
鈥淢y goal this year is to shave three seconds and get to 1:56 in the 800m race,鈥� said Ryan.
The high school junior hopes to accomplish his goal by pushing himself in the last lap of the race.
鈥淎s much as running is physical, it is also a mental game,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get negativity in your head.鈥�
Ryan鈥檚 favorite song to motivate him is Miss Alissa by Eagles of Death Metal.
鈥淚t is a good upbeat song that energizes me and puts me in a great mindset,鈥� said the 16-year-old.
Another source of motivation is Coach Michael Nangle.
鈥淚 joined the team, last year as a sophomore,鈥� said Ryan.鈥滳oach Nangle saw something in me and pushed me. He is a tough love kind of coach.鈥�
Ryan also credits his teammate Tom DiVincent and former teammate Alex Horgan in helping him thrive in the sport.
鈥淭hese guys took me under their wing and made being part of the track team so much fun,鈥� said Ryan.
In addition to competing in the 800m (1/2 mile) and 1600m (1 mile) races, Ryan was a member of the 4×4 and 4×8 relay team.
鈥淲e practice passing the baton so we can do so quickly and accurately and save a few seconds during the race,鈥� said Ryan.
Last season, the Ramapo team won the Bergen County Meet of Champions in the 4×8 relay race competition.
Ryan admits he now prefers track to soccer and is hoping the next two years of high school competition can earn him a spot on a college team.
鈥淚 would love to run in college,鈥� said Ryan.
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