Archbishop Ryan High School recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a significant modernization of its outdoor athletic complex.
More than $4.6 million has been raised for the first phase, which will feature a turf football field, a track and a multi-purpose grass field for sports such as field hockey, lacrosse and soccer.
The second phase will include lights and bleachers.
The football field will be named in memory of George Karusky, a Ryan football, soccer and baseball player who died of meningitis in 2020, his senior year.
“His spirit is here today,” said Joe Sanginiti, class of 1975, the school president.
Principal Joe McFadden, class of 1997, served as emcee at the Sept. 25 kickoff. The Rev. Frank Berna, class of 1970, blessed the ground, which is located behind the school.
In addition to Sanginiti, others offering remarks were Will Mega, Office of the Mayor; state Reps. Martina White and Ed Neilson; and state Sen. Joe Picozzi. City Councilman Brian O’Neill was also in attendance.
“Ryan is a cornerstone of Northeast Philadelphia,” said Neilson, who secured a state grant for $3.25 million in 2021.
Neilson was joined by four of his sons who graduated from Ryan. He recalled the effort for an athletic complex at Ryan beginning in 2017. He thanked Sanginiti and former Ryan president Mike Barnett for pushing the project forward.
The Ryan student choir kicked off the groundbreaking event by singing the alma mater and was followed by Mega singing the West Catholic alma mater.
White credited Sanginiti and McFadden for strengthening Ryan.
“What you’ve been able to do here is absolutely phenomenal,” she said.
Picozzi attended the ceremony following an appearance at Father Judge for the installation Mass of that school’s new president, Jim Meredith, who is a former Ryan principal.
“Today is a great day for Northeast Philadelphia,” Picozzi said.
The big news comes as Ryan is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
“Today is a milestone for Archbishop Ryan High School,” Sanginiti said.
Sanginiti thanked numerous people, including his predecessor, Barnett; the Friends of Ryan and all donors; the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Neilson, White and Picozzi, along with Picozzi’s predecessor, Jimmy Dillon; the Millbrook Civic Association; and Ed Hughes, a 1979 graduate, school development team member and top supporter of the project.
Legendary boys soccer coach George Todt (for whom the current soccer field is named) joined the celebration. So did former track coaches Ed Ulmer and J.T. Ryan, who are looking forward to the new track.
“It’s going to be named after you, Mr. Ulmer,” Sanginiti said.
Some current athletes wore their uniforms and were joined by coaches Jimmy Dillon (girls basketball), Joe Zeglinski (boys basketball and athletic director), Roger Munsey (track and field), Shane Taylor (boys lacrosse), Ryan Haney (boys soccer) and Ryan Graber (new softball coach).
Sanginiti said the school is doing more than building athletic fields.
“We are building another part of the Archbishop Ryan experience,” he said. ••
