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October 2026 What Does it Mean to Play for the Irish?
Did You Know?
Sports are a big part of the high school experience and are becoming increasingly so across our region and the country. At Father Ryan High School, our Catholic focus gives a deeper purpose to athletics. Our goal is to form young people who know how to work, lead, persevere, and carry themselves and care for their teammates with humility and courage. Every practice, competition, victory, and setback becomes part of that formation.
We have 38 teams? We had 19 championships in
On September 27, we announced to our school community that we would be playing a non-region, independent football schedule in the fall
2025-2026?
of 2027 and 2028. We believe in the principle of the student-athlete and in the foundational mission of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic
20 of our teams do not require
Association (TSSAA) to ensure athletics remains subordinate to academics, protect student-athletes from exploitation, and provide fair competition. We have become increasingly concerned that other schools across the state do not share this belief. By playing a non-region schedule, we can ensure we are playing competitive teams, including our long-standing rivals, and ensure our opponents are aligned with our view of the TSSAA’s mission. Ultimately, our students should have the opportunity to compete, lead, grow, and experience being part of a team while remaining firmly grounded in the larger purpose of their education. We encourage you to read a letter from our president, Paul Davis ’81, which further explains our decisions and what it will mean for our football student-athletes over the next two years. https://fatherryanorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/7b4dbd89-17d6-407e-87cc-730fc971af66
tryouts? We partner with White House Sports Psychology to focus on mental wellness and performance? Each team has a Team Mass and service project? Students can be managers, statisticians, photographers, videographers, and participate in our Behind the Crest sports journalism club?
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Get the details about playing for the Irish.
The Diary of Anne Frank, performed by The Purple Masque Players October 1-3 Center for the Arts
A must-see production of the classic, poignant play Buy Tickets
The Irish are now 3-3 and in the midst of an exciting season, but football is just one of our many great fall sports stories.
300th Career Win for Coach Mullins!
Preview Day Sunday, October 25 1:00-3:00pm Registration begins at 12:30pm in the Center for the Arts Register Here Open Visit Day Thursday, October 29 8:15am-1:45pm Drop-off and pick-up in the Main Office Register Here
On September 9, Head Volleyball Coach Ann Mullins '03 celebrated her 300th career win. Learn more about how Father Ryan’s values shaped her playing days and the approach she and her coaching colleagues take in every sport.
Welcome, Stacy Swinea, Head Softball Coach, and Thank You, Coach Ashlee Doyle Coach Ashlee Doyle has retired from her coaching position after joining the coaching staff in 2007 and leading the team 150+ wins and two Region Final appearances. She will continue teaching Mathematics and is our new Head of Oak House. We are proud to have Stacy Swinea as our new Head Softball Coach. She brings more than three decades of experience in education and
Morning Coffee with Father Ryan - Hayes Scholars Spotlight Tuesday, November 10 9:30-10:30am Neuhoff Library Have your questions answered by students, administrators, and faculty. We are showcasing the Hayes Scholars Program. All families are welcome to join us. Register Here
coaching and one of the most accomplished softball resumes in https://fatherryanorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/7b4dbd89-17d6-407e-87cc-730fc971af66
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Tennessee high school athletics. She has been a teacher and coach at Davidson Academy since 1992. With a record of 833 career wins, the second-most career softball wins in Tennessee, three state championships, and more, Coach Swinea has earned numerous Coach of the Year honors. Read more about her accomplishments.
Irish Athletics Accolades
Bella Burk '27 Hayes Scholar, Volleyball, Immaculata House What is your favorite Irish Athletics moment? My favorite Irish Athletic moment is beating Lipscomb at Lipscomb my freshman year to win our region. It was one of the craziest games, and the energy in the gym was unmatched.
JV Volleyball won the Wilco Tournament in September.
How has playing for Father Ryan shaped you as a person? Father Ryan has shaped me as a person by exemplifying the true meaning of community and culture. My coaches push me to be the best possible teammate and player I can be through the expectations of humility, determination, and respect. Our team word this year is commit, and I’ve never been a part of a group of girls who are more committed to one another, and they truly inspire me every day. What are your future plans and do they involve athletics?
Seniors Bella Burk and Heidi Green were named to the Tennessean’s Midseason Top TSSAA Volleyball Players list. With the September 8 big
I am committed to play division 1 volleyball at Queens University of Charlotte. I plan on going into their nursing program to eventually become a nurse anesthetist.
win over Ensworth, Bella became the second Irish volleyball player in two years to reach the significant milestone of 1,000 career digs.
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Lydia Brunner '27 Hayes Scholar, Cross Country, Basketball, Emerald House What is your favorite Irish Athletics Moment? The Irish Cross Country teams traveled to Alabama for the Chickasaw Trails Invitational, where the Lady Irish raced to an outstanding thirdplace finish in a field of 52 teams. Lydia Brunner ’27 led the way with a fourth-place individual finish, while Caroline Puryear ’29 and Grace Richter ’29 both placed among the Top 20.
My favorite Irish Athletics moment was our first-round state basketball game against Baylor last year. Kate Fielding made the last-second, gamewinning shot, and we all ran on the court to celebrate. Then, we celebrated in the locker room by playing music and dumping water on Coach McLeod. How has playing for Father Ryan shaped you as a person? Through Father Ryan athletics, I have learned about the necessity of communication and how to rely on my teammates through challenges. Overall, during my four years here, I've become a stronger, more resilient athlete and person. What are your future plans and do they involve athletics?
Lady Irish Soccer players Addison Warhoover ’27 and juniors Elliot
I am competing in cross country and track at Miami University in Ohio, and I plan to major in health sciences.
Hartz, Emma Lasota, and Gigi Lewis were named to the Tennessean’s Midseason Top TSSAA Girls Soccer Players list.
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On September 11, golfer Stephen Garland ’27 made his first hole-inone at the Irish Invitational. Stephen was selected by three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings to represent Team West for the TN Junior Cup played at The Grove on September 25-27. That same day, Irish athletes participated in our annual 9/11 Workouts, organized by our Strength and Conditioning Department, to honor the lives lost and recognize the remarkable bravery and commitment of the first responders.
Three Seniors Receive National Merit Recognition Congratulations to the Father Ryan seniors recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists: Henry Lo and Cade Saivar Commended Scholar: Lucas Bivens This is an amazing achievement, and we are very proud of their leadership in the classroom and across our community. Read more about these scholars.
Are You Registered for Preview Day, Sunday, October 25
Register for Preview Day
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1:00-3:00pm Registration begins at 12:30pm in the Courtyard Attending Preview Day is much more than taking a tour. Our exciting afternoon for your family includes: Students sharing their academic and personal success and how they are growing through our faith-focused education. What makes us uniquely “Father Ryan,” from our House System to our personalized learning with four flexible levels of learning. Why belonging is so essential to our community culture and how we embrace our promise: You Will Be Known. You Will Be Loved.® Sports, clubs, the arts, and more.
Why Preview Day is Worth the Visit Erin (Baltz) Riggs ’00, Director of Enrollment, explains how you can gain an even more compelling experience of Father Ryan by visiting during our Preview Day.
Find the Right Fit
Our Interactive Viewbook
Check out our interactive viewbook with video, links, and more. Our application for admission for fall 2027 is open, and we recommend early applications.
Explore the Viewbook
Visit fatherryan.org/discover for a one-stop shop of videos, Viewbook, our Personalized Learning Guide, and detailed information on Hayes https://fatherryanorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/7b4dbd89-17d6-407e-87cc-730fc971af66
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Scholars, arts, athletics, and more. Learn how Father Ryan is making a Catholic education accessible for all.
Diary of Anne Frank by the Purple Masque Players, October 1-3
Tonight and this weekend, our Purple Masque Players perform the classic play, Diary of Anne Frank, in our Center for the Arts.
Click Here to Buy Tickets
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We have an added connection to the poignant subject matter. Each of our six Houses has a saint. Elliston House’s saint is St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan friar and priest, who volunteered to die in place of an Auschwitz prisoner. He led prayer vigils in the prison camp with other priests and was one of the last to remain alive after two weeks of forced dehydration and starvation. On August 14, 1941, he died by lethal injection. Students learn about the lives of the saints and their selflessness and devotion as examples of faith and service to others.
Want to learn more about Junior Irish opportunities? Visit our Junior Irish webpage to learn more about how you can get your child involved with Father Ryan today!
Junior Irish Webpage
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Erin (Baltz) Riggs '00
Peyton (Carell) Fuller'13
Ben Spence
Erin (Corrigan) Vallett '95
Director of Enrollment
Assoc. Director of Enrollment
Assoc. Director of Enrollment
Enrollment Registrar
© 2026 Father Ryan High School | 700 Norwood Drive | Nashville, TN 37204 | 615-383-4200
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