University of Minnesota Duluth set to honor late football player Reed Ryan with moment of silence… after he died following cardiac arrest in team gym
- UMD's volleyball and hockey teams wear ribbons and decals with the number 99
- Ryan collapsed in the weight room on November 21 and was taken to the ICU
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The University of Minnesota Duluth will honor late football player Reed Ryan this weekend with ribbons, decals and a moment of silence.
Ryan, 22, died on Tuesday after going into cardiac arrest in the weight room exactly a week earlier.
“It's on the minds of every staff member and student-athlete right now,” a spokesperson for UMD Athletics said TMZ. “The tributes will continue through the seasons.”
The UMD volleyball team wore ribbons with Ryan's jersey number, 99, as they played Wayne State College in the NCAA Division 2 Central Regional Tournament on Thursday.
The university's hockey team will also be allowed to wear decals with the number 99 when they play Omaha on Friday and Saturday, according to TMZ.
University of Minnesota Duluth will honor late football player Reed Ryan starting this weekend
Reed — a 6-foot-1, 241-pound defensive end — was working out in a weight room on Nov. 21 when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest
According to Ryan's family, school officials began life-saving measures after his collapse and successfully regained his pulse. Ryan was rushed to ICU but sadly died seven days after the incident.
Ryan's family said the emergency was caused by an “undetected genetic heart condition and a big, loving heart.” The family also stated that Ryan was “doing what he loved” when the cardiac arrest occurred.
“Reed had an infectious smile and lived life to the fullest in his short years,” Ryan's family wrote. “Reed loved people, he could talk to anyone and took pride in being surrounded by friends, family, mentors and being part of a team.”
The defensive lineman played four years at North Dakota State University on a full scholarship before transferring to UMD. Ryan's former school also released a statement honoring the former Bison.
The NDSU football team described Ryan as “the ultimate teammate, a constant source of joy, a genuine selfless spirit and a beloved friend.”
“We will miss you, Reed,” the Bison wrote. “Your legacy will live on.”
Before transferring to UMD, Ryan played at South Dakota State on a full scholarship
As a redshirt senior at UMD, Ryan recorded eight tackles and a sack for the Bulldogs.
“You'll never have a better person, and that's what we have with Reed,” UMD football coach Curt Wiese said Wednesday. “Reed was with us in Duluth for a year, but his impact will last a lifetime.”
“Reed strived to get better every day at whatever task he was given,” Wiese said in a statement about Ryan. “He helped bring out the best in others with his positive attitude, infectious smile and genuine care for those around him.”
Funeral services for Ryan will be held Saturday in Middleton, Wisconsin.