Personal Statement

My name is Ryan Pettograsso-Houk.  I am 15 years old and in 9th grade. My primary positions are SS/3rd/RHP.  My college and athletic goals are to compete in D1 baseball at a high level in a academically challenging environment.  

I was 13 when the COVID pandemic hit.  I was a 7th grade student anticipating being on our school district JV baseball team when our district shut down all athletics and in-person school. It was truly heartbreaking for me.  I had a choice during this time.  I could have relaxed and floated by or worked 100x harder.  I chose to work 100x harder.  My family allowed my to move from NY to Florida with other family members in January of 2021.  I enrolled in school and worked with a local baseball facility in Fort Myers to condition my body for baseball.  I was able to play baseball on two elite baseball teams and in professional baseball facilities such as Jet Blue.  In addition to playing with nationally ranked baseball players and conditioning my body to be the best, I learned how to compete.  It was during this time period that I grew as a person and understood the power and control I had over my own success and achievements.  It was difficult being away from my hometown, family and friends; I knew however that the time away was temporary, what I learned and the challenges I overcame, will stay with me forever.  

I fully believe my experience these past two years have been drastically different from my peers and I am extremely grateful to my family who made it happen for me.   I am as prepared as I can be to continue to put my best foot forward with my character, my work ethic, my skill and my study.   When you live with gratitude, you live fully  and always carry the desire to be the very best version of yourself.