Ryan Stagg, a wrestler, musician, loving husband, caring brother, supportive friend, and former Bruin, passed away on October 10th, 2024. While he is gone, we know that he will continue to influence many of our lives strongly and we will feel his everlasting support for years to come.
One of Stagg’s accomplishments is his exceptional work as a musician/songwriter. His band, “Ryan and the Staggers” debuted their first album, The Staggers Hit A Wall, and more music is to be released a year after his death. The band members included Ryan Stagg, Aiden Warfield, Joshua Fredrick, Sylas Brumbleow, Josiah Brumbelow, and Sawyer Ricker. Some of their songs include “Death of the Prom King,” “In Love with You,” “Bye!,” “Homebound Winds,” and “Out of What.”
Another thing Stagg was successful in was wrestling for Barlow. Stagg was in Sam Barlow High School’s varsity 160 and 170 weight class. He began his first year as a wrestler on varsity his junior year; while he didn’t win all of his matches, he never beat himself up about it. He worked to improve his wrestling skills as the year progressed with pride. He received a multitude of awards for his exceptional progress and determination in his sport.
Stagg earned the George Meyers Memorial Wrestler Award, given to a senior wrestler who best exemplifies overcoming adversity, positive commitment, and dedication to the program. It is given in honor of the late George Meyers, who was a special contributor to youth in the East County area through his involvement in high school athletics.
The second award Stagg has earned is the Barlow Wrestling Ultimate Teammate Award, which is given to a wrestler who consistently supports their teammates, holds them accountable, and goes above and beyond for the team. Rod Heiser, Barlow’s head wrestling coach, says, “His positive attitude, kind heart, and wry sense of humor made him a very special person. I only knew Ryan for a couple of years, but in that short time, I watched him positively impact the lives of those around him. Ryan will always be a part of Barlow Wrestling and he will always have a special place in my heart.” James Korman, Barlow’s current varsity 157-pounder added that “he was someone who lightened my mood at practice.”
As a teammate and coach, Stagg has made a lasting point to be there for anyone who needs his help. There is never a negative side when it comes to him. He is commonly regarded as the guy who has “the best mustache in Barlow to date,” as Wyatt Newcomb, a Junior on the team states. He also worked to make memories outside of the mats with his teammates, truly making them feel like family. “Me, Ryan, and big Eli used to sing along to songs in the welding booths in shop class,” was one of Kenneth Kiepke’s favorite memories he shared with him.
As a member of the school band, one of the things Stagg wanted to make a reality once he inevitably passed was making a band fundraiser named “Ryan Stagg Rhythm Scholarship,” organized by Jannette Hansen to help any musicians in need get to where they need to be to pursue their dreams. Stagg played ten instruments, some of which were saxophone, piano, and guitar.
Stagg was many things, but of those things, most of who he is came from his friends, family, and wife. “One of my favorite memories with Ryan was getting married,” Tatum Stagg says. At first, she was skeptical of the idea of getting married so young; however, Tatum kept faith in her love for Stagg and followed through. This gave her a perspective of life that she says taught her “that you can be going through the worst things in life and you can still choose to be happy and make your dreams happen.” Staggs’ little sister, Sydney Stagg, stated, “He was the best big brother I could have asked for.” While briefly explaining his condition, she also mentioned that he went to over 75 concerts. She calls him an inspiration in many lives and says he never failed to make the people around him laugh.
Stagg lived his life to the fullest, even after his diagnosis. He would go to concerts no matter how he felt simply because he loved music that much. He spent up to his last days writing and creating music, sometimes both in one day. Ryan Stagg is someone to look up to and smile at the thought of. His attitude towards life and overall optimism will hold relevance in lives for years to come.
