Where Are They Now? : Ryan Carlyle

Graduated South: 2007

College: University of South Carolina, graduated May 2011

Majors: 1) Marketing 2) Management

Minor: Sports and Entertainment Management

After graduating Clarkstown High School South with 11 varsity seasons under her belt, Ryan Carlyle was far from ready to give up sports. And although she knew she would play sports at USC, she could not have imagined she would playing for the USA's pre-Olympic rugby team and representing the country around the world.

Rugby is a fast paced, rough and tumble game with 15 players on the field at a time. It combines the kicking, throwing, passing, and running of popular American sports such as football and soccer, with many of its own unique rules.

Growing up, Carlyle had tried every sport one could fathom-- from karate to dance to figure skating. By high school she had whittled down her favorites to three varsity sports: soccer, softball, and basketball.

“Sports became something to escape to for me throughout high school,” Carlyle says. “I feel most relaxed with my heart rate maxed out, sweat pouring, and pressure from an opponent.”

Originally, Carlyle had walked onto USC’s Varsity Softball team in her freshman year, but realized that she was not ready make the commitment. She explains, “I always told myself that unless you are going to give 110%, don’t bother giving anything at all.”

She then began playing for the club soccer team.

So how did Carlyle end up playing Rugby? She was first introduced to the sport while studying abroad duirng her sophomore year in Australia and visited Suncorp Stadium, home to the Brisbane Broncos of the Aussie National Rugby League.  

When she was back in the states, Carlyle noticed that USC rugby tryouts were right after her club soccer practice. On a whim, she decided to stick around and give it a shot. The young athlete was a natural and the rugby team immediately invited Carlyle to play with them for the long term.

It didn't take long for coaches in schools from across the Southern region to notice Carlyle's talent. She ended up making the South All Star Team, which consisted of the best female players in the Southern region. The team went on to compete in the National All Star Championship tournament in Santa Barbara, CA. 

Showing impressive skill at the tournament, Carlyle was invited to play Sevens Rugby by the South region’s Rugby 7s team for the summer.  Rugby sevens is a shorter and faster game than Rugby Union, which she played up to that point. There are only seven players on the field and points are scored more frequently. Carlyle’s coach was a former Olympian and world cup athlete.

“Our coach devoted her time to teaching us the game of sevens and developing our skills as rugby players,” she says.

In January of 2011, Carlyle was invited to the Women’s USA Rugby Elite High Performance Trials. The five-day camp tested more than 60 females in Rugby skills. Carlyle’s high scores landed her a spot on the National Team Player Pool for USA’s 7’s.

The pre-Olympic pool is made up of 32 players who attend multiple 10-day camps throughout the year and train at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego. The players then go on tours to represent the U.S. all over the world. Carlyle explains that the commitment makes it difficult to go to school full-time and “Each of us have made the decision to put rugby first." 

On the team for just over half a year to date, Carlyle has competed internationally in Las Vegas and Hong Kong for the International Rugby HSBC World Series. The next World Series tour will begin in Dubai in December 2011.

“The way I see it, the Olympics only come every 4 years… but I can sit behind a desk and bury myself in text books for the rest of my life,” she says. “For now, I’m going to take advantage of the gift of my physical fitness, age, free time, and parental support and train to be one of the best athletes in the world.”

Similar to many child athletes, Carlyle grew up with dreams of becoming a professional athlete or Olympian.

“To actually stand on an international competition field, wearing a USA jersey, and listen to the National Anthem alongside and across from some of the greatest athletes in the world, gives me the chills every time,” she says.

Carlyle has been given an opportunity to live her childhood dreams and says that she could not ask for more, “well maybe a gold medal,” she laughs.

Although she seems far removed from her days playing softball at South, Carlyle keeps the memories with her and considers her experiences there important to where she is now. 

“I am thankful for all of my coaches and teammates that taught me, disciplined me, created memories, and encouraged me along the way.”  She adds, “if it were not for all of the great experiences I had through my high school and recreational activities, I would not have stuck with them for so long.”