Latest news with #FatherRyan
ABC News
10 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Heroic surfing priest rescues father and son from rip at Cable Beach
A Catholic priest has rescued a father and son who were struggling to swim at a tourist hotspot in Western Australia's far north. Last weekend, Father Ryan was out in the water at Cable Beach when he spotted two people struggling to stay afloat. "I saw a couple of fellows who looked like they were getting pretty close to where a little flash rip was," he said. Father Ryan paddled over when he yelled out and heard no response. He said within seconds, one of the "young fellas clambered onto his board" relieved at the sight of help. "Being in a tourist town, we do get a few people who are not familiar with being around open water," he said. "[It] can look really calm, but if there's a big tide … one minute you're in the flags, next minute you're on your own." While Father Liam Ryan spends much of his time at the Broome Catholic Church, he is equally known in the community for surfing and swimming in the open waters. The rescue was not his first foray into saving desperate swimmers. He received an Australian Bravery Award in 2022 for saving someone who was bitten by a great white shark in Bunker Bay in the state's south-west two years prior. Father Ryan described the situation as similar to his Cable Beach rescue but "a little bit scarier". "We ended up getting a little bit of a pat on the back. We got the gong from the [government]," he said. Ultimately, Father Ryan said there was "something deep within you" that wanted to help others in need, and he credited years of swimming, which gave him the ability to assist in water emergencies. Last weekend's rescue at Cable Beach was not an isolated incident. There has been a spike in swimmers being caught in rips and getting into trouble outside the designated flagged area since the start of the tourist season. There were four rescues in five days at Cable Beach, according to West Coast Water Rescue, contracted to patrol the tourist destination by the local council. Fatal drowning incidents at Cable Beach in Broome are rare, with a notable case occurring in 2020. More broadly, the Kimberley region recorded the third-highest regional drowning rate in Australia, at 4.55 per 100,000 residents, according to the latest data from the Royal Life Saving Society. Broome Surf Life Saving Club director Fabio Armanni said it was important people paid attention to the conditions. The Broome Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol the beach on Sunday, while West Coast Water Rescue patrols throughout the rest of the week. Mr Armanni said "preventative actions" were far more common than rescues, typically involving alerts when watercraft came too close to the flags or when someone was caught in a rip. Swimmers are advised to swim between the flags, check the conditions, swim with a buddy, avoid alcohol and drugs and be wary of rips. As Father Ryan puts it, "respect the ocean" and "don't be a dag, swim between the flags".
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote for the Nashville area's 2025 early season TSSAA boys soccer player of the year
The 2025 TSSAA soccer season got underway this week. The Tennessean released its top Nashville area players to watch. We've trimmed that list down to a select view, and now you get to vote your choice for early season player of the year. The poll is below. Voting will close at noon Saturday. Jack Doyle, Brentwood, Sr.: Doyle, an attacker, is signed with Belmont University to play golf next fall. Last year he was second on Brentwood's soccer team with 13 goals and six assists and had four game-winning goals. Camden Holiday, CPA, Jr.: The midfielder was named 2024 Division II-AA, All Middle Region, Tennessean All-Midstate first team and TSWA All State after scoring 17 goals with 23 assists. Chris Parks, Davidson Academy, Jr.: The forward led Davidson Academy to a 10-6 record last year after scoring 28 goals. He was named All-District 4 in Division II-A and to the 2024 Tennessean All-Midstate boys soccer team. Terrance Reynolds, Ensworth, Jr.: The center midfielder was difficult to contain, finishing 2024 with 30 goals and six assists while being named to The Tennessean's All-Midstate second team. More: TSSAA basketball state tournament: Tennessee high school sectional bracket More: TSSAA basketball state tournament: Division II championships brackets Ryan MacClary, Father Ryan, Jr.: While Ryan plays the forward position, he is the point player for Father Ryan, creating chances off the dribble. He had five goals and three assists and is being recruited by Harvard and Duke. Tristiano Alfano, Franklin, Sr.: Alfano had four goals and eight assists as a midfielder last year while earning All-District 10-AAA. Armando Esparza, Harpeth, Sr.: From his left wing position, Esparza had 20 goals and 10 assists. Sonny French, Hendersonville, Sr.: The Commandos have been a standout defensive team in recent years, led by French who also recorded four goals and three assists while being named District 12-AAA MVP and The Tennessean's All-Midstate second team. Bo Robbins, MBA, Jr.: The midfielder scored 12 goals with eight assists as the Big Red made a run to the DII-AA state semifinals, finishing last season 13-2-1. Marshall Gunter, M.L. King, Jr.: Gunter, a forward, had seven goals and seven assists and was named District 10-AA MVP last season. More: How to watch TSSAA state basketball tournament championships for Division II Tyler Kose, Ravenwood, Sr.: One of the top defenders in the Nashville area, Kose was named all district while helping Ravenwood record three shutouts in the 2024 TSSAA playoffs. Luke Russell, Rossview, Sr.: Russell can play both forward and midfield for the Hawks. He's coming off a 14-goals, nine-assist season. Emmanuel Leyva, Shelbyville, Sr.: Leyva provides vast experience having helped lead Shelbyville to the program's only Class AAA state tournament as a freshman in 2022. He had 15 goals and eight assists last year. Ryan Hendon, Station Camp, Jr.: Hendon led Station Camp with 41 goals and seven assists as the team won 17 games in 2024. Atticus Pflaum, USN, Sr.: The forward led the team with 10 goals and three assists as USN reached the DII-A state semifinals. Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@ and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA soccer: Nashville area early season boys player of the year poll
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doug Bontrager retires as Father Ryan boys basketball coach after 37 seasons and over 600 wins
Father Ryan boys basketball coach Doug Bontrager has stepped down after 37 seasons and more than 600 wins, the school announced Tuesday. Bontrager's teams reached eight TSSAA basketball state semifinals, winning Division II state titles in 1999 and 2002 and earning three state runner-up finishes. Bontrager, a 1981 Father Ryan graduate, finished with a 603-471 overall record after the Irish went 21-9 this past season. Father Ryan won the Division II-AA Middle Region title for the first time since 2009, advancing to the state quarterfinals. More: TSSAA basketball region tournament brackets, scores for Nashville area More: TSSAA basketball state tournament: Division II championships brackets 'Basketball is a true team sport, and I am filled with gratitude for each player, administrator, and fan who has been a part of this journey,' Bontrager said in a statement. 'I am extremely grateful for all the assistant coaches who have worked beside me these last 37 years. The success of our program is a direct result of their hard work and dedication.' Bontrager will remain at Father Ryan as a teacher. 'Every coach knew that if they were playing a team coached by Doug Bontrager, they would be facing an organized, well-prepared, defensive team,' said Father Ryan President Paul Davis '81, a classmate of Bontrager and former freshman basketball coach. 'Beyond the game, when it comes to teaching young men the principles of integrity and character, you cannot find a better role model than Coach Bontrager. We thank him for his dedication to helping decades of Father Ryan students reach their spiritual, academic, and personal potentials.' Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@ and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Doug Bontrager retires as Father Ryan basketball coach after 37 seasons
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Father Ryan's Casen Roark won 4th straight TSSAA wrestling state championship in Division II
Despite lifting his name into the pantheon of Tennessee's all-time greatest high school wrestlers, Father Ryan's Casen Roark still wasn't satisfied. Roark won his fourth straight TSSAA Division II wrestling championship on Saturday, becoming the 25th wrestler in TSSAA history to win at least four state titles. And while the result left the senior with a wide smile across his face, he was left unimpressed by his own performance during the DII state competition at Montgomery Bell Academy. 'It's been a long (road)," Roark said. "Two knee surgeries, just a lot going on, especially with the recruiting process … I feel like I could've done a lot better this match, I think I really should've. I just tried to treat it like every other match and that's how it felt really.' DIVISION I: What Summit learned from first TSSAA wrestling state dual championship final appearance Roark becomes just the second ever wrestler from Father Ryan to earn four straight state titles, following Eli King who achieved the same between 2014-2017. And while he may poke holes in his state title winning performance, his career with Father Ryan has been nearly flawless, claiming state titles 126, 132 and now 138 pounds. That's not to say Roark never faced any adversity. He's torn ligaments in each knee during his high school career. It resulted in two surgeries, but this season Roark felt as close to 100% as he's been in years, allowing him to focus all his attention on his performances on the mat. 'I felt good all throughout the season, some sickness like usual, but coming into (the state championships) I felt good," Roark said. "It's a big weight off your shoulders (being healthy), it's just a lot easier on yourself.' Roark hopes future wrestlers at Father Ryan emulate his success. That will be no easy task, as Roark joins King as one of now three wrestlers from Middle Tennessee to win at least four straight state titles, cementing his place as one of Father Ryan's greatest wrestlers. 'He'll go down as one of the best, if not the best, that's ever wrestled at Ryan,' coach Pat Simpson said. 'You look at his body and you can tell he's put in the work in the weight room and that's probably what separates him from the competition, is he's going to be stronger than anybody he wrestles.' East Tennessee was represented by Lakeway Christian Academy which had four wrestlers take state runner-up. Lakeway Christian's Jay Eversole claimed a state championship at 190 pounds for the second straight year. Returning to 190 pounds this season as the reigning state champion, Eversole could sense a target on his back this season, but credited his coaches as helping prepare him for biggest match of the season on Saturday. "It feels like there's something being done where I'm from," Eversole said. "With the school I'm at, I'm blessed with great coaches and it feels like there's something being made there." Along with Father Ryan, Middle Tennessee was further represented by Brentwood Academy's Cash Waymire, who took home his first state title at 113 pounds. Montgomery Bell Academy's Claiborne Tompkins (175), Elias Franks (215) and James Trainer (285) each finished runner-up to earn the hosts a sixth-place team finish. Baylor took home its fourth Division II team championship in five years, finishing with 241.5 points as Christopher Swann (120), William Phillips (150), Titus Norman (165) and Maximus Norman (175) each brought home state titles. Father Ryan finished runner-up with 224.5 points as Tanner Tran (106), Brody Gobbell (132) and Roark each took first place in their respective weight classes. St. George's Griffin Davis had his eyes on a TSSAA wrestling state title in the fourth grade. When his fellow classmates were asked by a teacher what they hoped to do later in life, the usual suspects cropped up – professional athlete, doctor, lawyer – but even in elementary school Davis knew his path was slightly different. He rose up to the white board and declared his goal was to win a state wrestling championship, a dream which turned into a reality on Saturday as he became St. George's first ever individual champion. 'It feels amazing … we have a tiny school," he said, "We have about 70 people per grade. It's just really good to rep my school, help build our program. In the past we haven't been a great wrestling school so it's good that I can give back to my school and help build the program.' St. George's has an enrollment of 286 students, which has posed challenges entering the state championships for Davis, as he competes against wrestlers from historically successful programs such as Baylor and McCallie. With just six boys wrestling for St. George's, helping prepare Davis for the biggest stage became a community effort in the Memphis area with nearby schools and their wrestlers coming together to provide him additional sparring opportunities in anticipation of the state championships. 'It means a lot,' coach Tony Cao said. 'Memphis is a great city that gets overlooked quite often, to have a kid who loves Memphis and wants to show support for Memphis means the world to me. We represent all the schools in Memphis, showing Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee that we belong too.' Harrison Campbell covers high school sports for The Daily Herald and The Tennessean. Email him at hcampbell@ and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA wrestling: Casen Roark wins fourth straight Division II title
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee swimming signee Lilly Robertson wins state title on TISCA championships opening night
Lilly Robertson is already making herself right at home. The Ensworth senior and University of Tennessee swimming signee won the 50-yard freestyle state title Friday with a time of 23:08 to open the TISCA championships at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville. The Allan Jones Aquatic Center is home of the Volunteers men's and women's swim teams. It's not only the venue where Robertson will swim as a UT freshman next season, but also where her dad, Doug, competed for UT from 1982-86, earning All-America honors in the 400 and 800 freestyle relay a combined four times. More: 2026 Tennessee football target Justin Hopkins has Vols, USC among four finalists Robertson outlasted Sevier County's Alexis Schmidt (23.49) by less than half a second in a thriller. Robertson earned All-America status in the event and will try for her third consecutive 100 free state title on Saturday when the Tennessee high school swimming season concludes. Robertson also won the 200 free last season but is not swimming the event this week. Following preliminaries races, the finals in the 100 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 400 free relay will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday to conclude the state meet. Here are a few other Nashville area takeaways from Friday. Kocak held off Maryville freshman Ellie Stanley in one of the night's closest races. Kocak, a sophomore, improved her preliminary time by almost two seconds in the finals, finishing in 53.48 with Stanley coming in at 53.99. More: National Signing Day: Where did Nashville area's top athletes in all sports sign? Helmer, a sophomore, brought home the 200 free state title with a time of 1:49.31 for her first championship. She also helped Father Ryan finish fourth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 26.73 in the 50 backstroke as the Irish finished the race in 1:45.26. More: TSSAA to induct Father Ryan icons Jinx Cockerham, Pat Simpson as part of 2025 hall of fame class Helmer is the No. 1 seed going into Saturday's 500 yard free. She was the state runner-up last year. The unofficial team scoring doesn't favor Nashville area schools. McCallie leads the boys meet with 191 points, followed by Baylor (112). Ensworth (89) and Ravenwood (84) would need a big Saturday to catch up. No Nashville area teams or individuals captured boys titles on Friday. Baylor leads the girls meet with 112 points, followed by Ensworth (89), Ravenwood (84) and Father Ryan (83). Hulan, a Michigan signee, was denied back-to-back state titles in the 200 individual medley, placing third with a time of 2:02.87. Maryville's Ellie Stanley won the championship with a time of 2:00.44. Hulan still has a chance to close her high school career with a state title when she competes in the 100 backstroke on Saturday. She's the No. 3 seed coming in and was the state runner-up last year. Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@ and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TISCA championships: Lilly Robertson wins 50 freestyle state title
