Spartans tennis phenom continues his climb

The St. Mary?s boys? tennis season did not end the way the team had hoped, as the Spartans bowed out in the Division 3 North quarterfinals.
But the early exit from the tournament doesn?t take away from the outstanding year the Spartans put together, led by top singles? player Brady Ryan, who just completed the eighth grade at St. Mary?s. Ryan finished the season with a 15-4 individual record, matching the team?s overall mark, and was named the Catholic Central League co-MVP. Ryan is the youngest player in more than 10 years to earn MVP honors.
?I knew he had a good shot at getting (the MVP award),” said St. Mary?s tennis coach Brian Carlson. “He and (co-MVP Luke Wyman, a junior at Austin Prep) totally deserve it. They had the best individual records in the league. It?s a huge accomplishment.”
Ryan, 14, has been a starting singles? player on the varsity since he was in sixth grade. He moved up to first singles in 2014, and Carlson foresees Ryan staying there for the remainder of his high school career.
Devoting time and energy to tennis has helped significantly with Ryan?s communication skills. He has Asperger?s syndrome, which is characterized by difficulties in social interaction.
?He has a hard time relating to people; he?s a bit of a loner,” said his mother, Laurie Wentzell. “But through sports, he?s able to meet people. He prefers to be on his own. It?s more comfortable for him. In tennis, however, he knows what?s expected of him, and it gives him something in common with people his age. He wouldn?t know half the people he does if it weren?t for sports.”
Wentzell said her son is very literal and he becomes focused on stats and numbers, part of his personality that benefits him when it comes to tennis.
Ryan started playing tennis seriously when he was 10, which, when compared to others at his level, actually represents a relatively late start. Many kids start playing at a much younger age. But Ryan began playing tennis for fun, not to compete.
?I know my mom played tennis, and she kind of encouraged me to play,” Ryan said.
His mother signed him up for a summer program at Bass River Tennis Club in Beverly. Although it was more of a recreational activity for Ryan, Wentzell took notice of her son?s skills.
?He was really good,” she said. “Better than a lot of the other kids his age.”
As he kept at it and grew out of the recreational programs, Wentzell entered Ryan into tournaments. He trained and took lessons at the Manchester Athletic Club, and focused his attention on a higher level of competition.
Ryan has been a three-sport athlete for much of his school career, playing soccer in the fall and running track in the winter. But this past school year, he dropped soccer in order to devote more time to trying to reach the next level in tennis.
?He doesn?t really take lessons anymore, and he has a natural athletic ability,” said Wentzell. “But now is the time to decide if he wants to put in the extra time and training to excel.”
A big part of Ryan?s success is his demeanor and focus on the court. With tennis being a highly mental game, Ryan makes up for what he lacks in physical size and strength with acumen and composure.
?He doesn?t get frazzled,” said Carlson. “He reads everything very well. He kind of knows what to expect and how to handle things. He has something inside that many athletes do that enables him to excel at the sport. It?s hard to teach.”
?He?s super competitive and wants to be the best at everything,” said Wentzell. “But he?s smart. He fights ? he doesn?t let things rattle him. He keeps an even head. It comes down to little things like strategy and placement, and that, compiled with his physical athleticism ? he has the potential to do great things.”
Ryan has attracted attention throughout the region for his play. He?s been a ranked player in the Northeast since he was 10. But when his competition at first singles ? regularly upperclassmen ? meet him for the first time, it?s hard to believe th