With quicksilver speed and boundless energy, Ryan Gardner, a Eureka senior, is one of the more exciting players on the attack in the area.
He is part of a senior class that has turned Eureka into one of the state's best, finishing second to Rockhurst in 2010. He finished last year with 30 goals and 36 assists. This year, Gardner is once again proving that good things can come in a small package.
The 5-foot-8, 150-pounder entered the week the top playmaker in the area with 15 goals and 11 assists.
"I rely on my speed and a good shot," Gardner said. "That is all you need to beat a good high school goalie."
Gardner is a three-year starter at Eureka. He was talked into the sport by classmate Matt Ward, an equally-dangerous player, during their freshmen season.
"I was bored with baseball," Gardner said. "I loved the fast pace and it combined a lot of skills. And you can hit."
Gardner, Ward and the rest of the senior class have seen the program go from D-II state champs their sophomore year to swapping paint with perennial power Rockhurst for the DI title.
"At the beginning of last season, we weren't doing that great," Gardner said. "Somewhere towards the middle of the season, we started beating some good teams."
Gardner plans on attending Creighton University and playing lacrosse on the club team there.
The novelty of last season's dramatic run has already grown dull. Gardner and the rest of the Wildcats want to make winning the norm rather than the exception for the purple and gold.
"We want to be one of the top programs," Gardner said. "That motivates us every day. Now that we know what we can do, we expect to win every game."
