“(Matching last year) wasn’t really my focus for this meet,” Ryan said. Ryan mostly attributed that to missing the first six weeks of the season with “health complications.” The individual events didn’t match Ryan’s performances from a year ago, which included winning the 500 and 1,650 freestyle races. It was a lot of energy, a lot of people yelling and cheering.” “I went into the water ahead of the other teams, and I had to hold onto that lead, which I was thankfully able to do,” said Ryan, who won by 3.25 seconds. Ryan, who is 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, started the meet by anchoring the 800 freestyle relay, which had an electric atmosphere. They were selected to the All-Big Ten First Team. They helped win the 800-yard freestyle relay. Ryan contributed to the Big Ten title by swimming in four events. “We are the Big Ten champions for three years in a row, and that is pretty incredible.”

“That was accurate,” said Ryan, a Michigan senior who identifies as transgender, non-binary and gender queer. When they hit the song’s finale, Ryan felt extra pride because the last line rung true, “Hail! Hail! To Michigan the champion of the West.” Singing the Michigan fight song with teammates and coaches in the diving pool at Ohio State’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion was how the Wolverines celebrated winning their third consecutive Big Ten team title.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The final line of “Hail to the Victors” meant a little more to G Ryan at the end of the Big Ten Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb.

To Dawn by M.G. Ryan