BY HEIDI ZENEFSKI
Sports Correspondent

Ryan Lavin began playing basketball in the backyard with his sports’ enthusiast father. Now a senior on the Mountain View Eagles varsity basketball team, Lavin is the Independent’s Student Athlete of the Week.

“I like how it is fast paced and how it is a team sport. You need all five players to contribute in order to be successful,” Lavin said of basketball.

With the season just getting underway with practices and scrimmages, Lavin has a lot of confidence about his team. “The season is off to a great start all of the guys are practicing hard. We should have a good year if we can keep up this passion and intensity.”

Lavin is a three-sport athlete who, in addition to basketball, also plays soccer and baseball. He was chosen as a second team All-Star for soccer and he won the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.

He is competitive off the court, too, participating on the Science Olympiad team. His desire to succeed has earned him accolades including being a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.

Science is one of his interests that he wants to pursue after his high school graduation in the spring. He plans to attend the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and major in pharmacy. Following college he plans to move to North Carolina and is a big fan of the Tar Heels.

Lavin resides in Clifford Township with his parents Ed and Susan Lavin.