West Nyack's Own Ryan Carlyle Does Well In The Olympics

The Hudson Valley is well represented in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Seven athletes with ties to the area gave local residents a reason to cheer.

Who are they and how have they done so far? Here’s the list and what they’ve accomplished so far.

Ryan Carlyle was born and raised in West Nyack. She played softball, basketball and soccer at Clarkstown High School South before graduating in 2007. She started training with the Eagles in 2012 and by 2013 already claimed a bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens. She was named to Team USA’s Rugby Sevens Squad for the 2016 Olympics. The 12-member team competed between August 6 and 8, landing in fifth place, beating out teams from France, Spain, Brazil and Japan.

Melissa Gonzalez was born in Cortlandt and attended Lakeland High School. The 2016 Olympics was not the first major competition for the hockey player. She also took part in the London 2012 Olympic Games and participated in such world championships as the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, the 2014 Champions Challenge in Glasgow, and the 2013 World League Round 2 in Rio. Although the U.S. hockey team had a winning streak during this year’s Olympics, winning over Argentina and Australia, they were ultimately defeated by Germany, 2-1. Still, second place in the Olympics is quite the accomplishment.

This is the fourth time that Brewster resident McLain Ward has participated in the Olympics. Ward, who is currently participating in team jumping and individual jumping competitions, won a gold medal in his first two Olympics. The master equestrian rode in individual and team jumping events in the Athens Games in 2004, the Beijing Games in 2008 and the London Games in 2012. The competitions are currently in progress.

Deajah Stevens attended New Rochelle High School and is now a student at the University of Oregon. The 21-year-old track and field athlete qualified for the Rio Olympics by placing second in the 200-meter team trials in July. She ran the 200 in 22.30 seconds. The final competition takes place today.

Daryl Homer currently lives in the Bronx but was a 2008 graduate of Salesian High School in New Rochelle. At the 2016 Rio Olympics he won the Men’s individual sabre, beating out Mogtaba Abedini of Iran, but lost the gold medal bout to Aron Szilagyi of Hungary. He also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics He previously won a team gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and a silver medal in individual saber at the 2015 World Fencing Championships. He’s a five-time gold medalist at the Pan American Fencing Championships.

Bronxville’s Alisa Kano is a member of the first U.S. rhythmic gymnastics team to qualify for the Olympics. Rhythmic gymnastics incorporates elements of dance, ballet and gymnastics. She also competed at the 2015 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. The Rio Olympics competition does not begin until 9 a.m. August 20, so Kano still has some time to practice.

Although he is originally from Kenya, Leonard Korir ran track at New Rochelle’s Iona College. The track and field runner won the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships 10,000 Meter, the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships 5,000 meter and the 2015 New York City Half Marathon. He placed in the top three at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials, winning him a place at the Olympics. He was ranked 14th in the men’s 10,000-meter track and field.

These local athletes have given Hudson Valley residents a new reason to feel proud.