Ryan Powers
Graduating class: 1999
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2015
Hall of Fame Category: Athlete
Ryan Powers was a phenomenal three sport athlete, playing four years of soccer, basketball, and baseball. He earned the captain spot on all three teams his senior year. According to basketball coach Bob Baldwin, “Ryan epitomized what working hard can do” and according to all his coaches nobody worked harder than this young man! Whether during practice or battling in a game, Ryan always gave 100%. According to the late “Mr. Del”, “If ever an example of what a high school player should be, Ryan Powers is it! From start to finish, he exudes intensity and leadership. He is all game, he is all business”. Ryan was the blood and guts of his teams and always led by the only way he knew, by example!
His hard work and determination to succeed, along with fellow star Dustin Botelho, helped his 1999 basketball team become the first EVER outright SCC Champions! FHS has been co-champs on different occasions but this was the first individual one. The Blue Devils compiled a 13-3 record which could have, very easily, been even better as it’s only losses were a 1-point decision to Bourne, and 2 overtime losses to Wareham. Ryan’s numbers spoke for themselves that season: 51% shooting from the floor, 232 rebounds, 13.5 points per game average, but it was his “all out-all the time” effort that may never be replaced.
Powers was a four year starter on the soccer team, and kicked off a great freshman year scoring many goals and being a powerful addition up front. In baseball, Ryan was the starting center fielder whose all-out play in the outfield produced some fantastic defense. Although he did not have the best batting average on the team, his powerful and timely hitting always seemed to come at the most opportune time, including a powerful grand slam in the fifth inning in a game against Dighton Rehoboth, which allowed FHS to hold on to an 8-6 SCC victory.
His hard work and gutsy play earned him several awards, players of the week and All-Star nods. As a basketball star Ryan was nominated for the Dave Cowen’s Award. He also received the Mel Entin Athletic Award-1999, Athlete for All-Seasons Award, The Drew Foster Defensive Player of the Year Award-1999, Blue Devils Classic All Star Award, Most Valuable Player Soccer-1999, SCC All Star in soccer-1998 and 1999, in basketball: SCC All Star, 1998 and 1999, Standard Times All Star 1998 and 1999, Boston Globe Player of the week and Honorable mention All Star in Baseball.
Ryan graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 2004 and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2007 from Bridgewater State University and has been teaching fourth grade at Acushnet Elementary School since 2005. He lives in Fairhaven and you will still find him running local road races and many very long and difficult 50K trail races.