Matt Ryckman ’21, a senior at Bucknell University, has been named a collegiate water polo All-America Honorable Mention. 

On Wednesday, January 8, the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches announced its All-America lists for the 2024 men’s season, recognizing outstanding athletes from across the country.  

Matt, a center for the Bucknell Bison, played a pivotal role in the team’s success this year, helping the Bison secure a fifth-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Tournament. On the offensive side, Ryckman contributed 32 goals, ranking fifth on the team. Defensively, he was a standout with 23 steals, the second-highest tally on the Bison. These achievements mark a significant improvement from his 2023 season, during which he recorded 13 goals and nine steals. 

Matt’s impressive collegiate accomplishments are no surprise to those who followed his athletics career at Loomis Chaffee. A two-year letter-winner in water polo (there was no season during his senior year due to COVID-19) and three-year letter-winner in swimming, Matt also earned a varsity letter in golf. Ryckman was a dominant force in water polo. He was named team Most Valuable Player for both of his water polo seasons and earned spots on the New England Prep School Athletic Conference All-League team and the Liquid Four All-Tournament team as he led Loomis to second- and third-place finishes in the 2018 and 2019 tournaments. 

During his high school career, Matt scored 162 goals, tallied 79 assists, and recorded 164 steals and 101 exclusions. He was a captain and earned National Interscholastic Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention recognition in 2019–20. In swimming, he was an integral member of Loomis relay teams that broke school records in the 200-meter freestyle relay and the 200-meter medley relay, showcasing his versatility and athleticism. 

Matt also excelled on the club circuit, representing Greenwich Aquatics for six consecutive years at the Junior Olympics. 

Matt’s Honorable Mention recognition caps a collegiate career filled with growth and achievement. His contributions to Bucknell’s program underscore the strength of Loomis Chaffee’s athletic tradition and the bright future awaiting its graduates.