The University of Minnesota Duluth community is mourning the sudden loss of Reed Ryan, a senior defensive end on the school’s football team. Ryan, 22, passed away on Tuesday, a week after suffering a cardiac arrest during a workout session. The cause of the cardiac arrest was later revealed to be an undiagnosed genetic heart condition.
Ryan was in the weight room on November 21 when the incident occurred. The university’s training staff immediately performed CPR and he was rushed to St. Mary’s-Duluth for further treatment. Despite their best efforts, Ryan passed away a week later at Essentia Health in Duluth.
Curt Wiese, the head coach of the football team, expressed his deep sorrow over Ryan’s passing. He praised Ryan’s positive spirit, his infectious smile, and his genuine care for others. Wiese said that Ryan’s presence had a significant impact on the team, the athletic department, and the community. He added that Ryan’s legacy as a UMD Bulldog will continue to live on.
Before joining Duluth, Ryan spent three seasons at North Dakota State. He transferred to Duluth for his senior year and quickly made his mark. He was twice awarded the Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award for his academic achievements. On the field, Ryan had a career-high of eight tackles in his one year with Duluth, two of which resulted in a loss.
The Duluth athletics department praised Ryan for his character and the positive influence he had both on and off the field. Forrest Karr, the Director of Athletics, described Ryan as a kind, caring, and thoughtful young man who enjoyed bringing people together. He added that Ryan was well-loved in his hometown of Waunakee, as well as in Fargo and Duluth.
Ryan’s funeral services will be held on Saturday in Middleton, Wisconsin. His sudden passing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of regular health check-ups, especially for athletes who are often subjected to intense physical activities.