Lewis Athletics is proud to introduce "Flyer Features," a series spotlighting the incredible individuals who make our program soar. From former and current student-athletes to coaches, staff and supporters, these stories will celebrate the people driving our success. Join us as we share their journeys, accomplishments and the impact they've made on the Flyers family.

A standout in both cross country and track and field, Caroline Pacer-Ryan (Wheaton, Ill./West Chicago) has left a lasting legacy on the Flyers' program—and she's just getting started. 

The sports management major from Wheaton, Illinois has had several highs and lows while a student-athlete for Lewis, but she has always overcome any obstacle in her way.

Her senior year was capped off by an impressive sixth-place team finish at nationals, the highest for a Flyer woman since 1997. Pacer-Ryan was instrumental in the championship, placing second among her teammates and finishing in the top-50 with a time of 21:36. 



"Taking sixth at Nationals was something I'll never forget," she said. "It was muddy, bad weather and nothing was ideal about the race conditions, but we all were focused and found success."

That resilience and focus have been staples of Pacer-Ryan's career. She captured first place in the 10,000-meter race at last spring's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championships, clocking a time of 35:57.31. She also placed second in the 6K at the GLVC Cross Country Championships with a time of 21:02.6. Over her four years, she amassed eight top-three finishes across track and field and cross country.



Reflecting on her decision to come to Lewis, Pacer-Ryan cited the close-knit community and supportive coaching staff as key factors. "I chose Lewis because of my visit," she explained. "The atmosphere built by the coaches and teammates sold me. I could tell that they all hung out outside of practice. That was very important to me. Coach (James) Kearney brings energy every day—I felt that, and it made me want to be part of the program."

That energy shaped her athletic career and helped her discover her passion for coaching. "I didn't know what I wanted to do until my junior year," she shared. "Coach Kearney sat me down one day, and we had a meeting about life and goals. During that conversation, I realized I wanted to coach. We made a plan right there to help me achieve that goal."

That plan is already taking shape. Pacer-Ryan will trade her spikes for a whistle in January 2025 when she starts as a graduate assistant coach at the University of South Florida. 

"Lewis Athletics has a high emphasis on balancing athletics and academics. It's a community," she said. "Seeing how all the teams I've been on have come together, with coaches and teammates investing in me, is how and who I want to be as a coach. I want to pay it forward, and it started with my time at Lewis."

Pacer-Ryan's journey has also been deeply personal. Her marriage to teammate Sean Ryan is a story that really began in the classroom. "I met him my freshman year," she recalled. "We were teammates, so we ran in the same circles socially. I took a step outside my comfort zone and asked for homework 'help' in Theology. I definitely didn't need it in that class, but that was the play—it worked," she added, laughing.

The couple married just before their senior year and have supported each other every step of the way. "It was great to have somebody there to experience things with," she said. "We went to nationals together and had each other in everything."

As Pacer-Ryan reflects on her time at Lewis, the memories of team camaraderie stand out. "Two years ago, we set a goal for the 10K conference championship to sweep the podium. We led the entire way and accomplished that goal. We also won the conference meet that year, and it was super special to be part of it."



With a successful career as a Flyer behind her and a promising coaching future ahead, Caroline Pacer-Ryan (Wheaton, Ill./West Chicago) embodies the "Flyer Spirit" of Lewis University Athletics.