Sports
Falcon Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Scripps Ranch High School
From local fields to national fame, these stars got their start in San Diego.
Sports run deep in San Diego, and Scripps Ranch High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Falcon uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Scripps Ranch High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.
1. Nicole Ahsinger – Olympic Gymnast (Team USA)
Although a Falcon for only a short period of time, Ahsinger left her mark as a notable alumnus. She relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana, after her sophomore year to train as an Olympic trampoline gymnast and later attended college there. Ahsinger has competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She has won a gold medal in the 2023 World Championships for women’s Synchro and silver in 2019 for the Mixed All Around Team. (Sources: sandiegouniontribune.com, teamusa.com)
2. Xander Schauffele – PGA Golfer
Schauffele proudly wore the cardinal colors at Scripps Ranch High School, where he excelled at golf, winning the 2011 California State High School Championship. His coaches described him as a winner who “doesn’t give up.” Schauffele attended Long Beach State University, where he continued playing golf and graduated with a degree in social sciences. His professional career soon took off, with Schauffele placing in several world championships and winning two Olympic gold medals in Paris and Tokyo, respectively. (Sources: 10news.com, xanderschauffele.com, teamusa.com)3. Keely Moy – Olympic Ice Hockey Forward (Team Switzerland)
Although a proud Falcon, Moy truly made a name for herself in hockey at Harvard University. There she made an astonishing 30 goals, six of which were winners, and 25 assists. Moy eventually moved to Europe to play professional hockey in Switzerland’s women’s league, becoming a dual citizen. She proudly represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics, giving an assist in the tournament. (Sources: nbcsandiego.com, gocrimson.com)
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4. Sam Staab – NWSL Defender (Chicago Stars FC)
A renowned falcon, Staab was the Scripps Ranch High School soccer captain and led her team to four league championships and a state runner-up finish. She later attended Clemson University, where, again, Staab made a name for herself on the soccer field. Staab then entered the professional ranks when she was drafted to the Washington Spirit in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, and in her first season, she scored her first goal in a 2-0 win against Sky Blue FC. In 2025, she was signed to the Chicago Stars FC, where she continues to play today. (Sources: starsandstripesfc.com, oursportscentral.com)
5. Chad Ruhwedel – NHL Defenseman (Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres)
Ruhwedel proudly donned the cardinal colors of Scripps Ranch High School on the roller hockey rink and played youth hockey when he began to seriously consider a career in the NHL. Ruhwedel then played hockey at UMass Lowell before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, helping the Penguins win the 2011 Stanley Cup. He is now retired and devotes his time to youth mentorship programs and coaching. (Sources: theprogressnews.com, nbcsandiego.com)This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.
