Profile: Pioneer’s Ryan Hume mulls a promising future – but first things, first
Ryan Hume knows exactly what he wants to do in college – he just doesn’t know where he wants to do it yet. But one thing is clear, wherever he goes, it will be the right decision because it will be for all the right reasons.
Hume, the exceptional senior swimmer at Pioneer High School, has been making the right decisions his whole life and it’s been paying off in and out of the water.
On Feb. 10, Hume broke the Hill Pool record at Pioneer in the IM in a dual-meet with Dexter. It’s not his first trip to the record books and more than likely not his last – for someone so talented and so successful, it’s hard to believe his best days are in front of him.
Hume, 18, first started swimming with his brother at Liberty Lightning when he was 6 years old.
“I made a lot of my best friends swimming, and I stayed in the sport because of the supportive swimming community,” he says.
By the age of 8, Hume was competing among the best in his age group as a member of the Saline Swim Team. “Since then, I have been back and forth between SST and Club Wolverine a couple of times,” Hume says. “I’ve had so many coaches that have helped me grow and progress in this sport and I’m thankful for that. Recently, I’ve been to a couple of memorable meets, such as the Winter Junior’s championship in December.”
While club swimming has offered many opportunities to grow and his college decision looms in the not too distant future, Hume is locked in right now with the Pioneers. The past is what it was and the future is what it will be – but the present is NOW!
The defending Division 1 champions have dominated all comers this season and are among the favorites to win it all on March 11-12 in Holland.
“This season has been great so far,” says Hume, who has already qualified for the state finals in the 100, 200, and 500 free, along with the 200 IM, the 100 back and the 100 fly. “We have 15 swimmers qualified for the State meet so far, with a few first-time qualifiers. The seniors on this team have been swimming together for years, and this has created an amazing team atmosphere.”
Hume is quite familiar with the state finals.
During his freshman year, he qualified for states in the 200 IM and the 100 back. The team placed sixth in the state that rookie season.
“My sophomore year, we were looking very strong as a team, and I had qualified for states again,” he said. “However, that year’s state meet had to be canceled due to Covid.”
Last season, Hume helped lead the Pioneers to a state title. He won the 200 IM and touched second in the 500 free. He also swam on two relays that finished in the top three.
“This year, I want to improve my times from last year,” he says. “I also want to guide the younger swimmers and help them improve the best I can. Obviously, we’d love to repeat as team champions, but we would also love to see the younger guys put the program in great shape for the future.”
Hume has had many magical moments and incredible accomplishments over the four years at Pioneer, but what stands out?
“A big highlight for me was persevering through the pandemic, while still being able to learn and grow with my classmates,” he says.
Ryan is the son of Colleen and James Hume. He participated in water polo his first two years of high school and enjoys paddle boarding, photography and hiking.
And as far as the future is concerned?
“I am planning on swimming and studying mechanical engineering or data science at an undecided college next year,” he says.
Backstroke photo by proswim visuals
Other photos by Colleen Hume
