Salute To Seniors is a medium for "senior farewells". With so many seniors heading off to bigger and better things we wanted to give everyone a chance to salute them one more time as well as invite those seniors to tell their stories from the past four years. We will be posting this series through July, if you would like to submit check out this article.
Name: Ryan Humelsine - Career Stats
High School: Red Bank Regional HS
College: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?
Probably Indoor Groups of my Senior year. That race was so special simply because knew I finally made it past sectionals. It isn't easy to qualify at the North 2 Group 3 sectional meet in distance events because there are SO many guys fighting for those qualifying spots. I guess it wasn't race itself that was memorable... I was just happy to be there.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
I'll go out on a limb here and say Tyler Schwinn: my teammate. We only had two years together, but we were quite the one-two punch. Of course we took our easy days easy, but late in workouts I don't think anything pushes you more than your own training partner.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My senior year as a whole: when looking at my high school career, I ran my best as a senior, while having the most fun as well.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running or field career in high school?
I wouldn't take things so seriously at the beginning. I used to isolate myself before meets to prepare myself for the inevitable pain that comes with racing. I wish I had learned earlier on to ease up, joke around, and relax before competing.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Fear and nerves: as a freshman my stomach would drop the second I walked through those revolving doors into the Toms River Bubble. When you sit around at a meet with angst and panic it does nothing but drain you. I've gotten better at managing these emotions and saving them for the races.
What will you miss the most?
Even though it's not goodbye forever, it'll be tough leaving my family, friends, teammates, and coach. I'll also miss high school meets, the beach, and my mom's chicken parmesan.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Find something you love about the sport that drives you forward, and more importantly, have fun with it.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
Coach Mcgolrick has done an exceptional job of balancing the desire to compete with having a good time. He's turned me into a running fanatic. It's so sad when you see kids burnout in high school, but he's structured my training in such a way that the best is still yet to come, and I thank him for that.
What are your college plans?
I'll be studying engineering and running XC/Track at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
Parents/family
Teammates/friends
Coach McGoldrick
Red Bank Regional HS
Coach Tim McLoone of Rumson Fair Haven HS (the jack of all trades)
Coach Jim Schlentz of Colts Neck HS
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
We miss you Lambert :(
