Summer 2007: Ben had a busy summer as he swam at four different meets. He started out at the Eric Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix where he swam in the 200, 400 and 1500-meter freestyle. He then swam in the 200 and 800 free at the Charlotte Ultraswim of the Grand Prix series and also was on the ninth place 400 free relay team. At the Mid-Atlantic Senior Championships, he finished eighth in the 200 free and also swam in both butterfly events. He wrapped up the summer by swimming in the 800-meter and 1500-meter free at U.S. Nationals.
2006-07: Ben dropped almost 17 full seconds off his previous best time in the 1650 freestyle in finishing 12th in that event at Big Ten Championships in an NCAA `B[apos] time. He specialized in the distance freestyle events as a freshman and also saw time on the 800 free relay team at time during the season. On the year, he had one first place finish, two second places and one third place. Impressively, he finished in the top five in two out of three 1650 free races and in to the top five in three out of four swims in the 1000 free. He clocked the third fastest time of the year on the team in both the 500 and 1650 free and the second best in the 1000 free.
Meet-by-Meet Highlights: In his first collegiate meet, finished second in the 500 free and fourth in the 1000 free and also was on the fifth place 400 free relay team in the dual meet at West Virginia....Came in eighth in the 500 free and fifth in the 1000 free at the Clemson/Virginia/Virginia Tech/Penn State quad-meet....Placed fourth in the 1000 free at the Purdue Duals....Picked up points for Penn State in the 800-meter free (11th place) and the 1500-meter free (4th place) and also swam in the 400-meter free at the Bell Grand Prix....Finished second in the 200 free in the dual meet vs. West Chester....Won his first career race with a first place finish in the 500 free in the dual meet vs. Rutgers....Finished seventh in both the 200 and 500 free, swimming his best time of the year in the 500 free, came in second in the 1650 free and was on the third place 800 free relay team at the Shamrock Invitational....Finished 12th in the 1650 free to score points and also placed 20th in the 500 free at Big Ten Championships.
High School: Ben was a part of three district championship teams while earning four varsity letters in his career at State College Area High School. As a junior, he helped lead the team for a seventh place finish at the state meet and placed fifth at states in the 500 freestyle while also setting a school record in that event and earning All-American status. As a senior, his team finished second in the state and was a part of a state championship 400 free relay team. Individually, he finished second in the 200 free and third in the 500 free, once again earning All-American status. He also set the school record in the 100, 200, and 500 freestyle events. At Junior Nationals, he finished third in both the 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.
Personal: Ben was born on June 18, 1988 in Brunswick, Maine. He is the son of Bernard and Carrie Ryan and has a younger sister, Jenny. His father attended Penn State and his mother swam at Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Another relative, Craig Majkowski, was a captain of the golf team at the U.S. Naval Academy. Ben is majoring in information science and technology with career aspirations of working with homeland security. He lists paintball and hanging out with friends as hobbies.
Why I Chose Penn State: 'For the reputation of excellence of its graduates and for the great coaching staff.'