From Carroll County to PLL, Ryan Drenner is ‘your favorite player’s favorite player’

As a young kid, Ryan Drenner stood between the pipes getting pelted with tennis balls. Significantly younger than his cousin and his cousin’s friends, Drenner had to earn his stripes to play lacrosse with them.

Drenner’s family moved to Carroll County when he was 3 years old, right down the street from his aunt, uncle and cousin. He idolized his cousin and his friends, doing whatever he could to compete with them — even if that meant the daunting task of stepping in goal.

Drenner wholeheartedly embraced that opportunity and fell in love with the sport from a young age. He also played basketball and soccer as a kid, but no sport continually challenged him like lacrosse.

While he could master ball control in soccer or shooting in basketball, lacrosse always brought a new skill to tackle. That insatiable drive for improvement instilled an ever-present passion for the game with Drenner, who’s now playing in his seventh season in the Premier Lacrosse League co-founded by former Johns Hopkins star Paul Rabil.

“It’s incredible. Lacrosse has opened so many opportunities that I would have never dreamed about as a kid,” the Boston Cannons midfielder said. “[I’ve] been able to travel the country playing lacrosse, but also internationally. I’ve been to Japan, Ireland, places that I’m very fortunate to be able to travel to because of the sport of lacrosse.

“It’s really cool to just think about a game that I loved that I just saw as a hobby, and something that I love to do, has now provided me with a career post-graduation from college. To be still playing at a high level is incredible, super grateful for the opportunity.”

Through Drenner’s long career, he’s remained true to his Maryland roots. After a dominant high school run at Westminster, capped off with a 69-goal, 69-assist senior season, he took his talents to Towson University. He was a standout performer in his four seasons with the Tigers, concluding his career with 172 points (92 goals, 80 assists).

He joined the PLL in its inaugural season and won a championship on the now-Maryland Whipsnakes. After spending a year each with the Whipsnakes and Philadelphia Waterdogs, Drenner is now in his fifth season with the Cannons. Drenner has developed into a more well-rounded player while shifting from attack to midfield. In 58 career PLL games, the five-time All-Star has 92 goals and 18 assists.

While the 30-year-old Drenner entered the league as a dynamic attackman, he’s flourished as a two-way midfielder. Throughout that journey, he’s spent much of his offseason time coaching and giving back to the next generation, including two stops in his native Carroll County.

He was an assistant for two seasons at McDaniel College and also spent time leading the offense at York College under coach Brandon Childs. Drenner recently just completed his second year leading the boys varsity team at Gerstell Academy in his hometown of Finksburg, where the Falcons finished 9-4 and reached the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference Tournament semifinals.

Elise Amendola / AP

Towson's Ryan Drenner looks to make a play against Ohio State in an NCAA Tournament semifinal on May 27, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (Elise Amendola/AP)

“It’s just such a strong lacrosse community around here,” Drenner said. “I’ve really felt the love my entire career, through high school and college and then in the pros. It’s really special for me to work with kids, the next generation in Maryland where I grew up. I’m out on the field with them all spring. We just had two summer tournaments the past two weekends. Now, to get them all out there to watch me play is just really special.”

Drenner’s coaching experience spans all three levels, as he also leads his 8-year-old son Beckham’s team. Beckham’s growth within the sport has coincided with Drenner’s career development. Beckham, a left-handed attackman, shifted from asking Drenner to pick up monster trucks as a young toddler to now feeding him passes during shooting sessions.

Like many kids his age, Beckham shifts his focus throughout the seasons. The fall is for football, followed by basketball in the winter and then lacrosse in the spring.

Although Drenner is providing invaluable expertise to his players, he’s also learning from them in the process. In coaching high school athletes, he’s seen first-hand the impact of consistent body language and attitude, regardless of results.

Saturday night under the lights at Homewood Field, Drenner returned to his home state to play against the Whipsnakes. Every opportunity at Homewood brings fond reminders of Drenner’s dad, Dennis, bringing him to Maryland vs. Johns Hopkins games to watch from standing-room only seats along the fence.

However, that experience is even more special now. Saturday night, Beckham watched his dad spark the offense with a second-half hat-trick in a 13-12 win and even took part in the postgame news conference, sitting on Drenner’s lap with a stick in hand, rocking a Cannons hat and jersey.

“When the Cannons had the ball, all the attention goes to the person with the ball,” Beckham said postgame. “My dad had the ball a lot today. The thing that was going through my head right then was, ‘Wow, people really pay attention to this game.'”

Through four games, Drenner has a team-leading nine goals and is a vital part of the team’s resurgence in recent seasons alongside Marcus Holman and other veterans. From a 1-9 season three years ago to back-to-back seven-win seasons, Drenner described playing for the Cannons as a “blessing.”

“He’s as fabric as fabric is. Dren just has a cool way about him,” Cannons coach Brian Holman said. “The biggest thing for me from my perspective is not the lacrosse piece with the two of us. We have conversations about life, work and raising kids. I sent him a text the other day to wish him a Happy Father’s Day because he’s a heck of a father. I’m prouder of that for him than any goal that he’s going to score for us.

“He’s a consummate teammate. He’s always there for you. He’s always prepared. You never have to worry about Ryan Drenner showing up. Very rarely does he get hurt. He’s got this really elaborate stretch routine before the game. It’s really fun to watch. I’m glad he’s a Cannon that’s for damn sure.”

Back in the state where his lacrosse career began, Drenner is now the one peppering opposing goaltenders and excelling in front of his young son.

“I don’t think there’s anyone that embodies Cannon culture more than Ryan,” Cannons attackman Asher Nolting said. “Dren brings such a professionalism with him every week. He can do it all. That’s the joke, ‘He’s your favorite player’s favorite player.’ It’s true.

“He does everything well for us. It’s been awesome playing with him. This year, he’s taken the reigns of that midfield and really stepped up for us. It’s been unbelievable to watch and be a part of. For any young midfielders out there or players in general, just watch him do what he does and it’s pretty special.”

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