Ryan Spreading Himself Out--but Not Too Thinly--at Brea

Mike Ryan is a starter in three sports at Brea-Olinda High School--football, basketball and baseball--and will have earned eight varsity letters when he graduates in June.

As pep commissioner, he plans assemblies and rallies. He organized activities leading to the homecoming game and helped construct the senior float. And he is a member of the National Honor Society.

Ryan is equally versatile on the football field, where he helped Brea win the Orange League title and earn the No. 4 seeding in the Southern Section Division VI playoffs. Brea (7-2-1) will play host to two-time defending champion Corona del Mar (5-4-1) at 7:30 tonight in the opening round.

Ryan returns punts and kickoffs, holds for kicks, calls the defensive formations as a free safety and doubles as a backup tight end, wide receiver or running back. He intercepted four passes and scored three touchdowns, including a 94-yard kickoff return against Troy.

“He is the hardest-hitting secondary player I’ve coached in 16 years,” Brea Coach Jon Looney said. “Mike’s strength is run support. He’s very aggressive up front. He has good range, and he hits with the best of them.”

Ryan made the big plays in Brea’s 23-21 victory over Valencia.

First, he set up the winning field goal with a 43-yard pass reception from Jamie Baraglia. Then, he managed to control and hold a high center snap, allowing Marco Hernandez to kick a 27-yarder with 42 seconds remaining and give Brea its first victory over Valencia since 1981.

Ryan said he has replayed the film and still wonders how Valencia failed to block the field-goal attempt.

“The snap was high and to my left, and I barely caught it,” he said. “When I put the ball down, I looked up and saw two guys charging. I told myself, ‘This isn’t going to work.’

“Somehow, the ball sailed right through one guy’s arms, and then it nearly hit another guy in the head. It was fate.”

Ryan said he reminded his teammates in the huddle before the kick that Brea was going to win because “we have somebody else on our side.”

Brea’s players have worn No. 75 stickers on the side of their helmets in tribute to former teammate Brian Arredondo, who was killed in a traffic accident before the 1990 season.

“I told everyone, ‘Brian is with us,’ ” Ryan said. “Nobody gave us a chance against Valencia. There were a lot of doubters on campus.

“Nothing compares to winning the football title. Winning the league title means a lot to me. These are definitely good times. They’ve been about the best.”

Ryan has also experienced tough times. Only two years ago, he considered quitting football while struggling as a varsity reserve.

“I wasn’t playing much and wondered whether I wanted to continue playing football,” he said. “There were some problems at home. I took a week off, and the guys on the team gave me a lot of support.”

After a meeting with Looney, Ryan was moved to the junior varsity and was named the most valuable player. Last year, Ryan was a second-team all-league selection.

He credits his mother with much of his subsequent success.

“It’s been just me and my mom (Pat) for the past 12 years,” Ryan said. “She drove me to practice and to the games when I played Pop Warner football. She was my catcher when I practiced my pitching.

“She’s always been my biggest fan and supported me all the way. She’s the best.”