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Ryan Sowder on Senior Day with family

Georgetown Alum Posts Highest Ever Recorded ACFT Score


Submitted on June 27, 2019

Georgetown College alum and former football player, Spc. Ryan Sowder, has posted the highest score ever recorded on the U.S. Army’s Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the U.S. Army’s recently updated physical fitness test. Sowder, a football player at Georgetown College from 2012-2015, scored a 597 out of a possible 600 points on June 18th.

"I didn't think I would do as well (on the ACFT) as I did that day. I'd been sleeping on a cot and was out of my normal training routine for our unit's summer training, but I just knew I was going to give it everything I had," said Sowder. "The idea of giving all I have to something, particularly fitness, is really gratifying and I hope everyone can experience what it feels like to give 100% to something."

Sowder has taken the ACFT twice now, once at the schoolhouse in Fort Eustis, Virginia when he was getting trained as a level II grader for the test and the second time with his unit at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The first time he scored a 592 which at the time was the highest recorded score in the U.S. Army. This second time around, he bested his own score and missed the mark for 600 points by only five hand-release push-ups.

"I grew up playing sports year-round and have always been incredibly competitive. I realized early on that I could be really good (at athletics) if I put in the work," commented Sowder. "I was fortunate to play football at Georgetown College while going to school and when that season began coming to a close, I realized I wanted to continue competing.

My brother who is two years older than me also played football for Georgetown College and after graduation started intensive muscular strength and power development in order to compete outside of football. I knew when he made that jump that I would be following him."

Sowder credits his physical accomplishments to his tenacity and drive to succeed. This year, he was hoping to qualify for the 2019 Reebok Crossfit Games taking place Aug 1-4 in Madison, Wis. In order to make it, he had to win at the 'Crossfit Lowlands Throwdown' competition, one of only 15 regional competitions held across the world. He did what he set out to do and will be headed to Wisconsin in August.

 


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