Ryan Stack '14 Recruiting Profile

Aloha.  My name is Ryan Malulani Stack. I am currently a junior (class of 2014) at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (KSK) in Honolulu, Hawaii.  KSK is a college preparatory school founded and funded by Hawaii's last direct descendant of King Kamehameha I.  All students attending KSK are part Hawaiian and enter through a competitive admission process.  I have been privileged to attend since kindergarten and receive both a Western and Hawaiian education.  I am also part Japanese, Tahitian, Chinese and Irish.

I am 16 years old, six foot one inch tall and 155 pounds. I am one of those kids who has played just about every sport a child in Hawaii can play; but swimming seems to be my strong suit. I have been swimming competitively since I was 7.  I swim for both my high school and club teams, KSK and Kamehameha Swim Club (KSC). I have been fortunate that my coach for both teams is the same -- Kevin Flanagan.  My most significant swimming accomplishment to date is being a member of the KSC 15-16 Men's 200 meter freestyle relay when we set a National Age Group Record in July of 2012. My other significant swimming accomplishments have included:  (i) first team all-conference as both a freshman, sophomore and junior, (ii) 2012 Hawaii High School state champion 100 yard freestyle and 2013 Hawaii High School state champion 200 yard freestyle, (iii) 2012 and 2013 Hawaii High School state champion 200/400 yard freestyle relay (relay broke high school state records in 2013), (iv) member of 2012 and 2013 Men's Hawaii High School State Champion Team KSK, (v) member of KSC team who took eleventh place finish at the 2011 Speedo Championship Series Western Region Senior Sectionals and twelfth place finish in the same meet in 2012, (vi) high point scorer in State Age Group Long Course Championships in July 2012, and (vii) being invited to the USA Swimming Diversity Select Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  A bit of trivia, I was also a member of two Hawaii State Little League Baseball teams -- though on the lighter side, I was ironically known as a long ball hitter having been the home run leader in the two state title tournaments and during our league regular season.

As stated earlier, I have played many different sports, which has given me the tools and knowledge to help lead a team. By playing a variety of sports, I have different views and insights to do my best to keep the team going toward its goals. While I may not  be the oldest or the best player, I do my best to keep the team focused, and at the same time, loose and having fun while achieving our goals. As for location of schools, I do not have a real preference and am willing to locate to the best fit for my academic and athletic pursuits.  I will consider an academic curriculum that will push me, quality athletic programs, and a nice pool would not hurt . The enrollment size at a school may have some influence on my choice, but if my desired major is offered, the enrollment size may be less of a factor. After considering my strengths and interests, I am interested in communications, business and related programs. At this time, I have chosen these potential areas of study because I have always enjoyed "talking story", sharing news and learning about people and business so I see these majors as playing to my strengths.  I have always had an interest in the medical field although I remain undecided whether it is an area that I am prepared to pursue at this time.  However, I would like to enter a college that should I change my mind, such college has many strong and varied academic programs.

As for my athletic goals, they include swimming in a Division I college program with other swimmers who enjoy being challenged academically and athletically, and who want to represent a first class program and college.  With hard work on my part, and top notch coaching guidance, it has always been my dream to represent the United States of America as one of the few native Hawaiian swimmers to compete in the Olympics games. To dream is one thing but to do it will require many more laps and many more years of hard work and perseverance.  I try to always keep a positive attitude even if I am not having my best season or best meet.  I do my best to keep encouraging my teammates even though I may not be performing as I would like.  Swimming has given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the country (and sometimes world).  I am incentivized by my subpar performances as much as my personal best performances -- there is always more to do and learn, and I am looking for a program that will help me attain my goals as well as provide me the privilege of attaining both a great education and swim team experience.

Swimming has given me some amazing things, especially some valuable life skills such a working hard, passion, discipline, attention to detail, accepting criticism, and dealing with success as well as challenge.  However, I could never overstate the value of friendship and teamwork that swimming has given to me.  I have spent thousands of hours with people that I have the privilege of calling not only my teammates but my friends who I believe will be my friends for life even though we will take separate college paths.   My college swimming career will mean thousands more hours in the pool with people I have not yet had the privilege to meet, and in the end, a significant part of my decision will be knowing that the college swimming staff believes I am a good fit for their program, and, I too, believe that I am a good fit for that program.