Tacker wins award for sportsmanship

Tacker wins award for sportsmanship
With Rice degree and awards in hand, Owls pitcher reflects on college

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News Staff

Adding another honor to his successful pitching career at Rice, Ryne Tacker ’07 recently received a 2007 Conference USA Sportsmanship Award.

The awards are given to student-athletes, coaches or teams that perform an act of sporting behavior or generally conduct themselves with a high degree of good sportsmanship.

Tacker was a key member of this year’s Owl baseball squad that made a second-straight appearance in the NCAA College World Series (CWS). While the trip to Omaha for the CWS may have felt familiar to many, this year’s trip was quite a different experience for Tacker, who had to sit out the 2006 season due to a stress fracture in his elbow.

TOMMY LAVERGNE

Ryne Tacker, left, and teammate Joe Savery sign autographs for young fans at the College World Series.

“Because of my injury, last year I sat in the stands rooting with the other fans,” Tacker said. “This year I was in the dugout in my Owls uniform. It was awesome.”

The sportsmanship award affirms what Rice baseball players and fans already know: Tacker is a team player of the highest character. Last year he even paid his own way to go to Omaha and cheer for the Owls.

“Making the trip just felt right,” Tacker said. “Even though I had missed the season, they were still my teammates. This was still my team.”

Tacker’s love of the game and determination to support his team fueled his comeback for the 2007 season. With a winning record of 9-1, he was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. He also earned a spot on the 2007 Collegiate Baseball All-America third team as well as ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America second-team honors.

“Ryne has grown in his ability and continues to be a team-oriented player,” Coach Wayne Graham said. “He fought his way back from injuries and has the ability to be a pro baseball player.”

Even after missing the 2006 season, in which he was named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, Tacker was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 49th round of the major league draft.

“Last year, I didn’t anticipate being drafted at all. I was following the draft on the Internet off and on, all day long,” Tacker explained. “I had been out of the room, and then came back just in time to hear it say, ‘the Seattle Mariners select Nathan [Ryne] Tacker of Rice University.’ I thought, ‘Hey, wait a second. That’s me!”

Tacker opted to return to pitch for Rice and finish his college education. In May the Texas native earned his degree in kinesiology/managerial studies with a 3.6 GPA.

“This is the best way to complete my three years at Rice: commencement and the College World Series,” Tacker said. “This really is the best way as I move on to the next phase of my life.”

Tacker also did his part for the future generation of baseball players, serving as the official scorekeeper for the West University Little League and encouraging the youngsters to go to college.

“I knew I wanted to finish my degree. Your education is something that can never be taken away from you,” Tacker said. “I’ve been hurt, I’ve seen that you can’t take things for granted. I won’t be able to play baseball all my life, but I will always have my education, wherever I go and whatever happens to me.”

The next stop for Tacker is the Oakland Athletics minor league organization, which drafted him in the 34th round.