Academically Sound Athlete

When you think of Loyola Sacred Heart, you think of a high quality educational institution that gives back to it’s Montana colleges. The 2017 Loyola graduating class will be doing just that as a large majority will make their way to Bozeman to attend Montana State University, with anther group attending other Montana higher education institutions. Ryan McHugh is one of the Loyola graduates that will be attending Montana State this fall to study business despite the athletic ability to play college baseball as a pitcher.

Ryan would follow in the foot steps of his older brother Matt after completing junior high at Washington Middle School in Missoula and attend Loyola Sacred Heart. Ryan’s father Pat McHugh who Ryan is very close with talks about Ryan’s decision, “Both Ryan and his brother had a strong faith and a good connections to friends and family who are there.” Through McHugh’s faith and having sound friends Loyola would become the perfect home for him to master his academic abilities.

For Ryan it was a no brainier to go to Loyola and follow in his brother foot steps, and to keep his focus on school over athletics. The brothers are only three years apart so having Matt at Loyola would help Ryan grow in faith and mind. When asked who inspired him the most Ryan smiled and replied, “My brother Matt, he has always been a role model  for me and look up to him in what ever he does.”

In addition to being a sound student in the classroom that silently leads by example for his fellow students, Ryan would do double duty in athletics as a Loyola Ram basketball player and Missoula Maverick. On the court McHugh would come off the bench as a Ram and lead the team with his athletic ability. On a basketball squad that was filled with starters, McHugh would silently wait for his time on the court allowing his team the best option to win. When he steps on to the diamond, McHugh is no different as a competitor, leading by example as he does in the classroom. Long time friend and fellow Maverick James Martin has seen McHugh excel in all three of his passions, academics, basketball and baseball. Martin talks about his view on McHugh’s decision to pursue academics over athletics, “I was kind of surprised that Ryan did not try to play college baseball because of his pitching ability, but Ryan has always been one of those guys that’s really smart and going for that 4.0.”

For the Mama and Papa McHugh it will be a whole new world with both their boys off to college this fall, and Pat does see them continuing to be prep sports fans. Ryan’s father Pat reflects on his vision for Ryan when he was growing up, “I always envisioned him playing college baseball, but he made a very decisive decision and likes the idea of being closer to home and having his college experience at a larger school.”

Ryan will leave Missoula as an example to the youth both on the field and in the classroom, and no matter what the future holds for Ryan he will be a leader among his peers.