One of Lebanon Valley College Football’s most decorated kickers, Brittany Ryan ’11 was a mainstay for the Flying Dutchmen during her time in Annville. Recruited out of Easton High School, Ryan captured honorable mention all-state honors after nailing 46 extra points and two field goals as a senior in 2006. The jump to collegiate football was seamless, as she started the final three games for LVC in 2007 and made LVC and MAC history at Albright when she became the first female to participate in a varsity football game. She knocked down her first PAT against the Lions, and went on to convert 3-of-4 PATs at FDU-Florham before going a perfect 4-for-4 against Lycoming.

During her sophomore season, Ryan played in all 10 games at placekicker, taking every extra point and late-season field goal. She became just the third female to make a field goal in an NCAA game when she hit from 30 against Widener. That year, she also appeared in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces of the Crowd”. Overall, she nailed 27-of-30 extra point attempts in 2008.

In 2009, Ryan played all 11 games at kicker and went 33-of-40 on PATs. She hit two of four field-goal attempts, with a 21-yarder at Widener and a 23-yarder vs. Lycoming.

In her senior season, Ryan appeared in seven games and was 14-for-20 on PATs. She kicked one field goal, a 24-yarder vs. King’s, and became LVC’s all-time PAT leader and finished her career with 82. Additionally, she became the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader among female kickers with 100.

What made you decide to attend LVC?

Everything fell into place. I was sold by the caliber of the coaching staff and the high standards of the academic life.

What’s your favorite memory from playing football at LVC?

The rush from hitting the extra point or field goal in a game.

What’s your favorite non-sport memory from LVC?

The moment Rachel, my roommate, and I became close friends. She was my roommate for almost three years and is the daughter of former football coach Vince Pantalone.

What does it mean to you to be a part of the LVC community? 

It means a lot that I can still be readily in touch with my mentors, professors, and friends.

How did competing as a student-athlete at LVC prepare you for life after college?

It gave me the confidence to take calculated risks in my personal life. I understood that I could do whatever I worked towards.

As a rookie in 2007, you made LVC and MAC history at Albright when you became the first female to participate in a varsity game. What do you remember about that day? Nerves? 

I was nervous enough – I was chomping at the bit actually. I told Coach Monos just the week. Before that I was recruited for my accuracy and that I worked hard to achieve a higher trajectory in practice. I told him to give me a shot in a game, so he did.

In 2008, you became just the third female to make a field goal in an NCAA game with your 30-yarder vs. Widener. There must have been a lot of attention on you after appearing in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces of the Crowd”. Coach Buehler says you handled all of the press perfectly. How were you able to do that?

During my sophomore season, I received a call from George Vecsey, sportswriter for the New York Times, and I still cherish our conversation. His piece was accurate and heartfelt, and I truly admire him to this day as a journalist. Not to mention, he connected me to Tanya Butler for the first time.

My high school senior season marked the 100th anniversary game between Easton and Phillipsburg, which is the oldest football rivalry in history. It was being covered on live TV that Thanksgiving Day in 2006, so the media was always buzzing around us. It was also an emotionally charged season after we lost two friends in a car accident just a few months before. The press waited outside the locker room to get interviews of my teammates and me so I had plenty of opportunities to observe, mainly Jared Holley, a true gentleman, kind friend, and star-athlete. There was a lot of “hype” as Coach Shiffert used to say, and we were guided and sat down when we made an off-comment. That was me on at least two occasions, so I learned a lot in a short period of time. Stay humble, honor the other team, and only say what you need to.

What did it mean to you to become LVC’s all-time PAT leader with 82 PAT’s made, and the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer among female kickers? 

It was a nice feeling of course, but at the time I was trying to avoid stats and focus on my job as a kicker.

What advice do you have for current LVC student-athletes?

It’s only a short time in life that you only get to focus on yourself (Believe me, I’m a mom now). Take the time to hone your skills and be the absolute best you can be in the classroom and on the field. And don’t forget to try something out of your comfort zone, like join a play, take an art class, or participate in student government.

How has life after college been treating you? Where do you live now and what’s your occupation?

I have two children now, 5 and 2, so life is very busy. We own our home in New Plymouth, New Zealand, which is under an active volcano and just a 10-minute walk to the beach. Due to the pandemic, we decided to travel to the South Island just a couple of weeks ago in an RV. I would have been home for a wedding, but that has been pushed until next year.

I’m the Communications Manager for Sustainable Taranaki, a local non-profit grass roots organization that works to inspire and support people, businesses, and communities to value the environment and act to prioritize sustainability. I’m a fledgling writer for our local paper on topics around food resilience, sustainable living, and highlighting businesses that are going above and beyond for the environment. I also have a certificate in horticulture and I’ve taken courses on market gardening.