Ryan Blom ’15

When Ryan Blom ’15 enrolled at MHS in 2006 from Bethesda, Maryland, he was an athletic fourth-grader who was eager to get involved on campus. Every summer he loved playing on the diving board at the pool, so he decided to learn the sport.

“Diving is a fun sport to watch, and it’s also an adrenaline rush,” he explained. “I think that’s part of what keeps me doing it. The mental strength [needed to dive] is satisfying and really fun.”

In fourth grade, Ryan joined the diving program at MHS. He continued on from there and started diving competitively during his freshman year of high school.

“At MHS, other schools would sometimes practice on our diving boards. It was nice to meet new kids, and it felt like a club team,” Ryan said. “Our team was very close, and I think that’s just the [nature] of diving. It’s a team within a team.”

When he graduated from MHS in 2015, Ryan furthered his academic and athletic career at Georgetown University. He says he was drawn to the school’s Division 1 diving team due to its intense and fun environment.

Photo Credit: Kostas Lymperopoulos

Throughout his first two years at Georgetown University, Ryan has became a two-time champion for the one-meter springboard diving competition at the Big East Conference. He also placed second both years in the three-meter springboard event.

While Ryan enjoys healthy athletic competition, school remains his top priority. He is majoring in English and minoring in economics with the goal of attending law school in the future. His motto for success rings true for both his academics and his passion for success—it requires focus and work ethic.

“Keep focusing, and don’t worry too much about the outcome,” said Ryan. “If you know what you want to do, train to the best of your ability, and dedicate yourself, opportunities will come. You can’t just hope for it – you have to put in the work for it.”