Despite its small size, Meridian still produces elite athletic talent. Senior Ryan Southern is a prime example, as showcased by his commitment to the University of Delaware for Division I NCAA Swimming. Southern is a three-year varsity swimmer who set the state record and captured a state championship in the 100-meter butterfly at 49.1 seconds.
The University of Delaware is a large, Division I school located in Newark, which makes up a small college town. They have recruited 11 incoming freshmen for Fall 2026, two of whom are from Virginia. Falls Church’s Southern joins an impressive class of All Americans, State Champs, and international talents.
“I committed to the University of Delaware because of its strong swimming program and the exceptional resources available to the team,” Southern said. “The coaches were supportive and welcoming, and the athletes I met were clearly dedicated, which made Delaware feel like the right fit.”
Going D1 is no small feat, and it’s one that takes sacrifice to be able to achieve. Driven by his work ethic, Southern has trained 20 hours per week for the last five years, often early in the morning before school.
“Swimming in high school often required me to sacrifice my own happiness. The countless hours in the pool were draining but my effort didn’t go unrewarded,” Southern stated. “Over time I realized how important it was to me to compete.”
The sacrifice paid off, as Southern is now one of the elite swimmers in the nation.
“Swimming offered me an opportunity to show myself that I was capable of doing something valuable with myself,” Southern said. “If I were to go back in time and get the choice between swimming and doing something else, I would make the same decision.”
That decision was clearly a good one, and he will now face the next challenges that come with college.
“My goal at Delaware is to qualify for and compete at the NCAA Division I Championships in the 100 and 200 meter butterfly.”
Southern will have the opportunity to achieve these goals over the next four years, due to a combination of work ethic, talent, and the resources that the University of Delaware will provide for him.
