Career
Ryan is a 2010 graduate of The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He swam with the Scenic City Aquatic Club, a United States of America Swimming program, and The McCallie School, under coach Stan Corcoran. Ryan currently is swimming for coach Mike Bottom at The University of Michigan and is majoring in mechanical engineering.
At the 2009 Open Water Nationals, Ryan placed 4th overall and qualified for the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy.
At the 2009 FINA World Championships, Ryan swam the 25 kilometer open water race and placed 11th with a time of 5:36:22.2. In 2010, Ryan barely missed a spot on the Open Water National Team placing 7th in the United States. Open Water Nationals in May 2010.
After a somewhat disappointing swim in the open water, Ryan decided to focus on pool swimming for the summer. After a month of training with Jon Urbanchek out in Fullerton, California, and a few weeks taper with coach Stan Corcoran, Ryan"s work paid off with a third-place finish at United States. Nationals right behind Peter Vanderkaay.
Ryan finished with a time of 15:04.84 which placed him at 7th in the world at the time.
This time qualified him to represent the United States at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California. At the Pan Pacs Ryan placed 4th in the 1500-meter. His time of 15:04.84 was 11th in the world for the 2009–2010 season.
He finished the 5-kilometer race in 53:11.79.
Ryan later in 2011 went on to the Open Water World Championships to represent the United States of America in the 10k swim. There he finished 25th.
He missed his automatic berth to the United States. Olympic team by missing the top 10. The American team beat the Australians by one second.
At Long Course Nationals in 2011 Ryan finished second in the 1500 freestyle to Gemmell in 15:01 and is currently the fourth fastest American in the event for 2011 and the 11th in the world. bests (long course)
As of July 12, 2013.