‘Whatever is needed at the moment’: Worthington Kilbourne boys lacrosse leaning on Ryan
Thursday, May 14, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Worthington Kilbourne’s Declan Ryan tries to fend off Olentangy Liberty’s Antonio Kish last Thursday at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg
When asked about a catalyst for the success of the Worthington Kilbourne boys lacrosse team this season, coach Brian Miller didn’t hesitate when he named Declan Ryan.
It was an easy choice. Ryan, a senior attacker, is leading the Wolves after being more of a role player over his previous three years with the program behind standouts like 2025 graduates Thomas Tyack and Cole Fisher.
Kilbourne, which is 18-4 overall and won the OCC-Capital Division at 6-0 for their sixth league title in a row, is averaging just over 14 goals per game.
Fisher holds the OHSAA record with 452 career points. Ryan’s 69 goals and 54 assists this season has vaulted him to third-most points in program history, surpassing Tyack’s 266.
“There’s no doubt the ball has been on his stick a lot more and he’s truly been an All-American player for us this year,” said Miller, who is in his seventh season. “He’s a lacrosse rat (and) a great teammate. To be able to understand the game at such a high level and then be as selfless as he was the past few years when there were other people who were the ball carriers. There are coachable points, but for Declan’s sake, he’s able to just morph his game into whatever is needed in the moment.”
Tyack, who is now playing at Division III Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, as well as Fisher and fellow 2025 graduate and current goalie at Penn State Preston Hawkins helped lead the Wolves to the state tournament last year for the first time since 2018.
This year, Kilbourne is seeded second in the Division I, Region 3 tournament behind top-seeded Upper Arlington. The Wolves open tournament play at home against 17th-seeded Newark or 18th-seeded Canal Winchester on May 19.
Worthington Kilbourne’s Jackson Szabo (50) brings the ball down the field against Olentangy Liberty’s Alex Thorne during their game at Liberty on May 7. Photo: John Hulkenberg
If Kilbourne meets UA, it won’t be until the regional final round in what would be a rematch from last year where the Wolves won 7-5. The Golden Bears defeated Kilbourne 15-10 on April 9.
Ryan is as much a facilitator as he is anything else. He likens his game to his father, Sean, who taught him from a very young age.
“I like to be the person that initiates the dodging and then being able to find the open person and give them the ball so they can shoot and score,” Declan Ryan said. “It takes a lot of time and practicing outside of practice (to) just be confident in my ability.”
Sean Ryan serves as the Wolves’ offensive coordinator. He played at the collegiate level as an attacker at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
He coached collegiately at Ohio Wesleyan for 10 years and helped Delaware to club championships in 2012 and 2013 as a head coach and Dublin Coffman to a Division I state title in 2019 as an assistant at the high school level.
“My dad grew up in upstate New York and played in high school and college,” Declan said. “So, it was just kind of passed down to me. I started playing when I was able to walk, whether it was just in the backyard or in the basement with a miniature stick or something.”
‘A game that’s allowed us to bond’
Lacrosse is woven into the fabric of the Ryan family. Not only is Sean on staff, but younger brother Liam is a sophomore attacker with the Wolves.
“We know how hard he’s worked in the backyard – shooting and perfecting his craft,” Sean Ryan said. “(Last) weekend, for example, we had no practice and Declan was out probably at least three hours on Saturday and at least another two on Mother’s Day in the backyard shooting nonstop. That’s a great reward right there. Amber, his mom, and I are just so pleased to see all the hard work has paid off.”
Worthington Kilbourne goalie Henry Squeo looks for a pass during the Wolves’ game at Olentangy Liberty last Thursday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
The game brought the family closer together.
“Some kids have a basketball hoop in their yard, and their dad is showing them how to shoot baskets or he’s throwing a wiffle ball to his kid. For us, it was lacrosse sticks,” Sean said. “If Declan’s having a bad day, he’ll say to (Liam) or myself, ‘Hey, do you want to go have a catch?’
“If I’ve had a long day at work, I’ll go out in the back yard and start hitting the back of my chimney and the next thing I know, my two sons are out there with me. So, it’s been a game that’s allowed us to bond outside of ‘How’s school going?’ or ‘How’s life?’”
Declan can always lean on his father for advice. It’s never easy to have a parent as a coach and sometimes the line between the two is hard to see.
“Practice doesn’t just end at practice,” Declan said. “It comes home. He watches me in practice and everything. So, whatever happens in practice gets relayed to me at home too. But we’ve never gotten to the point where it’s been too much.”
There are benefits to having a coach at home.
“It’s like having a resource that’s always available,” Declan said. “Just asking a simple question and not having to wait for a response over text messaging from another coach. It’s an instant face-to-face answer.”
The Wolves had a particularly difficult 10-7 loss to Olentangy Liberty in the regular season finale on May 7. The Ryans got home and ate pizza as a family. Later that night, Sean and Declan were watching some playoff hockey when Declan started talking about the game.
“I think it’s like an art and you have to know your son,” Sean said. “You have to know how far to push and what I can get out of him. You have to be nurturing – (someone) who’s going to listen to them.”
Sean still plays what he calls, “Old man ball,” and Declan sees him play all the time. Declan says the two play a similar game, but there is one thing he wishes he could do as well as his dad.
“He does a really good job of using his body,” Declan said. “Like really separating from a defender using his body as a shield.”
Worthington Kilbourne’s Luke Page (24) competes with Olentangy Liberty’s Beau Williamson on May 7 at Liberty. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Sean was posed with the same question.
“I wish I could take a lot from his game,” he said. “His offhand – his left hand – is lethal. The way he pays attention to detail than where I was (at his age). I was more loosey-goosey. He’ll come to me in a game and say, ‘This is what’s going on out there. This is what this person needs to do. This is what they’re doing out there.’
“I wasn’t like that as a player. I just put in my mouthpiece and went out there and played. He’s more of a practitioner.”
‘A very poised group’
Ryan isn’t the only one putting up numbers for the Wolves. Sophomore midfielder Jackson Szabo has 34 goals and 19 assists, junior attacker Luke Salajko has 29 goals and 13 assists and senior midfielder Parker Cavicchia has 22 goals and four assists.
But – especially lately – it’s been the connection between Declan Ryan and classmate Tate Rich, a midfielder who has 54 goals and 30 assists.
“Recently, we’ve really been able to find each other when he’s on the inside,” Declan said. “(I’ve been able to) draw his man to me and I’m able to pass him the ball for an easy dunk shot where he’s able to finish real nice inside.”
Senior defender Luke Page has 132 ground balls and 36 caused turnovers and junior midfielder Max Ziskin has won 63.5% of faceoffs and has 111 ground balls.
Sophomore goalie Henry Squeo has 70 saves and senior Ethan Gonzalez has 64 with a save percentage of 50.8%.
“The big thing you want going into the tournament is no panic,” Miller said. “It’s a very poised group. They stay in the moment. It’s easy to coach a group of kids that are able to make one play at a time.”
Worthington Kilbourne’s Tate Rich looks to shoot during the Wolves’ game at Olentangy Liberty last Thursday. Photo: John Hulkenberg