AOP Spotlight Series: Ryan McNulty, Bishop Shanahan - Class of 2016
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A new feature to the website, the Spotlight Series will include interviews with former AOP student-athletes who continued their athletic participation in one form or another after high school.
Ryan McNulty, Bishop Shanahan (
Class of 2016)
- Three-sport student-athlete
- Two-time USLacrosse All-American and garnered Ches-Mont MVP distinction in 2016
- Three-time All-State honoree
Loyola (Md.) (2016-present)
- Tabbed second-team All-American in 2020 and honorable mention All-American in 2019
- Two-time team captain
- Received a medical harship waiver after playing in just two games in 2017
- Earned his bachelor's degree in Advertising & Public Relations and will pursue a Master's degree Emerging Media
Your favorite memory as a student-athlete at Bishop Shanahan:
“My freshman year [2012] we were a very good team and playing Downingtown West, and they were very good at the time too. We ended up going into double overtime, and I was lucky enough to score that goal to win. That was one of the moments in my early career at Shanahan that sticks out the most. Just how special that was to me to be able to do that as a freshman, and earn the respect of the older guys."
How did Bishop Shanahan prepare you for Loyola (Md.)?
“With Loyola being a Jesuit school, and the Theology requirements, I was able to help my other friends who went to public school and didn’t really know anything about it. I think that was very beneficial coming out of Shanahan. Everyone goes to Sunday mass at Loyola, it’s just a big community. That helped me find another group to hang out with other than just my team. That’s pretty important, to make other friends away from your team. So I was able to do that through my faith and what I learned at Shanahan.”
What have you gained from being a student-athlete at Loyola (Md.)?
“I definitely gained how to manage my time…work ethic. For me, you wake up at 8:00 a.m., go to class by 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. You’ll have one or two classes in the morning from nine-to-eleven, and then go straight to practice. You’re there for four hours, then you have to go home and go to more class. Then do your homework, study. So you really have to have good skills in time management.”
Serving as the founder and president of the BSHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club
“It really took off for the year that I started it [in 2015-16]. When I was there, it was really cool to see. A lot of people would come…a lacrosse club organization that I played for had it. We practiced and then all met in the locker room and had a shared bible study, based around athletics. I thought that was cool, combining two of my favorite things, the faith and lacrosse. And I just tried to make that more broad for all the athletes at Shanahan, football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer."
How are you spending your summer?
“I am lifting with a trainer, and coaching lacrosse for Team 91 down in Baltimore. I’m also giving some private lessons…just staying to the grind.”
Your team and individual goals for next season at Loyola (Md.)?
“Taking this situation that we just had with the pandemic and just realizing we need to be where our feet are. And when I say that, I mean just taking every moment step by step, not worrying about the future, about what happened in the past, just being where your feet are, appreciating everything. Honestly, just keeping your head down and grind, cause you never know what’s going to happen, so put as much work in as possible. I would hope that we would win the Patriot League [in 2021] and then move on and win the national championship. That’s definitely the two goals that I have.”
Previous AOP Spotlights
Ryan Quigley, Lansdale Catholic (Class of 2016)
Denise Dillon, Cardinal O'Hara (Class of 1992)
Chris Mooney, Archbishop Ryan (Class of 1990)
Marc Jackson, Roman (Class of 1993)
Cindy Anderson Griffin, Bishop McDevitt (Class of 1987)