Ryan O'Connell's competitive nature began when he picked up a lacrosse stick at age 7, following in the footsteps of his older cousins. He immediately was drawn to the game…or rather, games. In the fall it was football, winter it was hockey, and in the spring it was lacrosse. The three-sport athlete would go on to play all three sports competitively for the rest of his childhood. 

When O'Connell hit high school, he was already playing at the varsity level in multiple sports, and after his sophomore year of high school, in 2015, he verbally committed to the University of North Carolina for lacrosse. Two years later, when his high school career had ended, he was the career points leader for his alma mater, New Canaan High School, and school's interception career leader in football.

Related: Rate the University of North Carolina 

Fast Forward

A dynamic athlete found his home in North Carolina and was part of a North Carolina Men's Lacrosse team, which went to the final-four run in 2021. Loving competition more than anything, he decided to come back as a 5th year, and graduate student. O'Connell wasn't ready to call it quits just yet. When the following season finished, O'Connell remembered feeling relieved talking to his younger brother, also on the same team. Yes, he loved walking on the field and off the field with his teammates, that was one of his highlights, yet, he was happy that he got closure and was going out on his own terms. He felt his final year was worth it, despite tearing his meniscus, and needing surgery at the end of 2022.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

Where is He Now?

Fresh out of college at 23 years old, O'Connell is now working in the city, as a sales representative for the company Salesforce. He fittingly noted that his competitive nature and drive to succeed and out-compete others has led him to the perfect field. For O'Connell, discipline, motivation, and accountability, traits he attributes to being a D1athlete, have been extremely beneficial in the workforce. Though he is no longer playing sports daily, his competitive drive continues to influence his everyday life,  and he hasn't given up on the thought of playing recreational hockey or lacrosse. One an athlete, always an athlete.

Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on December 12, 2022, by Nicholas Nathanson