Spring Break
The Daily OrangeBand of Brothers: Ryan and Mark Cahak are SU athletes and best friends
By Mark Medina
Posted: 2/23/06, 2:10 AM EST Section: Sports
"For a kid who's so active, he's working out every single day and was in top physical condition. All of a sudden he can't do anything," said Roger Springfield, the Cahaks' father and the director of multimedia and video operations for the Syracuse athletics department and the Carrier Dome. "He couldn't jog or do anything. That tested his character at that point."
For Ryan, it gave him an opportunity to be there for Mark. It also gave Ryan perspective on his own life. The atmosphere at Dominican College displeased him. Ryan felt whenever the team lost, none of the players or coaches showed disappointment.
Ultimately, Mark did not suffer another injury and earned second-team all-state defenseman his junior and senior years. Both Mark and his roommate, Kenny Nims, a freshman attack who played against him in high school for Watertown, made enough local noise to attract offers from Syracuse.
At that time, Ryan thought about transferring but did not know where. But he became interested in Syracuse as soon as he found out Mark was as well. Ryan knew SU head Jim Boeheim and assistant coach Mike Hopkins because he often played pickup games at Manley Field House. It also didn't hurt that his father is an employee with Syracuse Athletics.
So when Ryan called Boeheim and asked if he could try out as a walk-on, Boeheim said that wouldn't be necessary. Boeheim already saw Ryan play enough to know he would fit in with the Orange, Ryan said.
"I just want to do whatever I can in any way to help the team," Ryan said. "If I don't play, I still want to go all-out in practice so that I can make the other players better. I know sometimes they have bad days. So if I practice as hard as I can, maybe I can get them to become better that day."
Due to transfer rules, Ryan can only practice with the team. He can't travel, and he also has to warm up well before tip-off because he's not allowed to be on the court at least an hour before the game, his father said. Since he is redshirting this year, he has two years left of eligibility.
For Ryan, it gave him an opportunity to be there for Mark. It also gave Ryan perspective on his own life. The atmosphere at Dominican College displeased him. Ryan felt whenever the team lost, none of the players or coaches showed disappointment.
Ultimately, Mark did not suffer another injury and earned second-team all-state defenseman his junior and senior years. Both Mark and his roommate, Kenny Nims, a freshman attack who played against him in high school for Watertown, made enough local noise to attract offers from Syracuse.
At that time, Ryan thought about transferring but did not know where. But he became interested in Syracuse as soon as he found out Mark was as well. Ryan knew SU head Jim Boeheim and assistant coach Mike Hopkins because he often played pickup games at Manley Field House. It also didn't hurt that his father is an employee with Syracuse Athletics.
So when Ryan called Boeheim and asked if he could try out as a walk-on, Boeheim said that wouldn't be necessary. Boeheim already saw Ryan play enough to know he would fit in with the Orange, Ryan said.
"I just want to do whatever I can in any way to help the team," Ryan said. "If I don't play, I still want to go all-out in practice so that I can make the other players better. I know sometimes they have bad days. So if I practice as hard as I can, maybe I can get them to become better that day."
Due to transfer rules, Ryan can only practice with the team. He can't travel, and he also has to warm up well before tip-off because he's not allowed to be on the court at least an hour before the game, his father said. Since he is redshirting this year, he has two years left of eligibility.
