Update on Ryan Moody: Former SB Standout Expects to Fully Recover from Car Accident Injuries; Targets Return to William and Mary Football Team

VivaLoudoun has been following the recovery of former Stone Bridge High School standout athlete Ryan Moody from injuries he suffered in an October car accident. The wide receiver had already had his redshirt freshman season at William and Mary cut short after a broken leg in September. The Moody family sent some wonderful news this morning as they expect Ryan to not only fully recover from his injuries but he is targeting a return to The Tribe football squad.

Update from the Moody family: The Moody family is happy to report that Ryan is expected to fully recover from injuries sustained in a car accident in late October. Ryan is currently spending time in rehabilitation for his injuries and is hoping to be well enough to start prepping for football training in the spring 2010 or possible return in 2011.

Ryan's family credits the power of prayer and the support of the community for Ryan’s recovery. His condition today is nothing short of miraculous. They hope for a similar outcome for Ryan Diviney, who is in Atlanta Shepherd Center recovering after an attack on the WVU campus in West Virginia.

Moody is expected to return to Ashburn from winter break around Dec. 18, welcome news to many of the 1,840 people who have joined the "Get Well Ryan Moody" page on Facebook since his accident.

Miraculous Turn: Injured Former SB Football Player Ryan Moody Stands on His Own

Well ... since I just wrote a column on how much  I like the positive news, is there anything more positive than this report from Ryan Moody's family posted on Facebook this morning. If you have been following our coverage (click here for past articles) on the injured William and Mary football player and former Stone Bridge High School standout Ryan Moody, seriously hurt in an auto accident a week ago, then this will make you smile:

UPDATE FROM THE MOODYS LAST NIGHT: Ryan started today very lethargic and in lots of pain. He did not want to sit up or move from bed. This afternoon he made a miraculous turn and was able to sit up and stand on his own. We even got a few smiles out of him and, much to Gil's surprise, he even talked trash about beating him on XBox NCAA game.


We see flashes of our boy!! He is healing in front of our eyes.... thank you all for all the prayers, they are working! [a note from your messenger: I LOVE posting these kinds of updates!!! And we all do firmly believe it the energy and prayers that are behind such miraculous improvement for Ryan. Thank you all!]


Now that Note from the Messenger was from the Moody family friend Trisha Donnelly Staugler but I second that emotion!

On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa - Covering All the Stories

On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor


(Nov. 1, 2009) - When the Washington Post made their lead prep story this Sunday morning -- devoting 12 column inches no less! -- to the possibility that Broad Run High School senior running back T.J. Peeler might not play in the Spartans AA Region II semifinal game in three weeks after he received two excessive celebration penalties in Friday's 47-7 win over Potomac Falls, it made me do something that a good journalist and publisher does from time-to-time: evaluate my coverage priorities.

One of the goals I had when I started LoudounPrepSports.com five years ago and when I started this new site, VivaLoudoun.com, less than three months ago, was to provide balanced and comprehensive coverage of all the high school sports in Loudoun County ... not just the most popular such as football.

Let's face it, there are online pay and free sites that cover Loudoun and big papers such as the Washington Post, that make football their top priority, and have a lot more resources to throw at that coverage than I could ever dream of.

I am a small operation (I may say my world headquarters is in Ashburn but really that just means my home office overran by cats, one is sleeping in my inbox, and children, such as my 9-year-old that just has to use my computer to set his fantasy football lineup!) and so I am always making choices each day on what to cover.

One of the competitive advantages I have is that I live in Loudoun and am part of the community ... My kids go to Loudoun County Public School and play athletics and I am likely to run into Park View High School AD Joe Breinig Jr. at Bonefish with his wife on a Saturday night like last weekend or flag down Stone Bridge High School cheer coach Nick Marchio, like I did last night during Trick-or-Treating with my son, to learn that the Bulldogs are seeded second after the semifinals of the Northern Region competitive cheer meet.

While I learned of the Peeler ejection from Friday's game before the game had even ended, I chose not to run a story on VivaLoudoun for several reasons.

For one, the individual player getting disciplined has always been a touchy issue for me. I simply do not like negative news, probably a shortcoming in my journalistic resume but so be it, and I am always mindful that we are covering kids and not college or professional players. Maybe that is the dad part of me as I have a son the same age as T.J. Peeler and whenever I approach a topic, I think about how I would want my son to be covered.

Over the years I've had phone calls from people at one high school with an ax to grind with another school and they will suggest an investigative topic and my reply is always: "While I would love to spend time on that topic, I have about a dozen other stories, all of them positive and with meaning, that I simply don't have time to cover ... why would I focus on the negative?"

Now don't get me wrong ... T.J. Peeler, one of the area's top rushers and a Pitt recruit, possibly not playing in the regional semifinal for the undefeated defending VHSL Division 4 state champions is news no doubt ... but given the fact that this is a "may" situation and still three weeks away from actually affecting anything ... my thought this weekend was why devote energy to the story.

If Broad Run wins an appeal and Peeler plays in three weeks, then it was a non-story. When it comes times for regional semifinal previews and key players are out -- for injury and other reasons -- then that is big news.

Besides, I had a great volleyball match to cover on Saturday (got me out of Halloween decorating!) between Loudoun County and Broad Run at Briar Woods High School. Fantastic high school volleyball, to decide the Dulles District's top seed and automatic regional bid, between the two district co-champs. Stone Bridge coach Jill Raschiatore was at the match simply, as she put it, "to watch great high school volleyball."

The only media outlets that chose to cover the match were the Loudoun Times-Mirror -- sports editor Carl Lukat was on hand -- and VivaLoudoun.

That is the type of story that VivaLoudoun wants to devote its energy towards or to this latest update on injured William and Mary, and former Stone Bridge High School, football player Ryan Moody: his father Gil posted this update on Ryan's recovery from a serious car accident last weekend on Facebook yeterday:

From: Ryan Moody-THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR WISHES!!! FEELING A LITTLE BIT BETTER

Now that is something worth devoting a headline to ... anytime.

Update on Ryan Moody - 1,562 People Have Joined the "Get Well" Group on Facebook!

Friday Evening update on Ryan Moody, who has been the hospital for six days now after a car accident in the Tidewater area where he plays football at William and Mary. It says alot about the good-natured Stone Bridge High School grad that 1,562 people as of Saturday morning has joined the "Get Well Ryan Moody" facebook group! ...

Ryan had a so so day today. Still very tired and lethargic. He's sleeping allot and needs lots of rest. In time he will get better as he is strong willed and has a loving family and friends around him. We ask everyone to please respect his wishes to get strong before receiving any visitors. Gill, Janet, Julio and I very much appreciate all the continued prayers and thoughts for his speedy recovery. THANK YOU.

Former Stone Bridge Standout Moody, Injured in Car Accident, is Scheduled for Surgery Tuesday Afternoon

Tuesday morning update from the Moody family:

TUES AM UPDATE FROM THE MOODY'S: Ryan had another good night last night. Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm today. We'll post an update later this afternoon. Keep the positive energy flowing!

Note from Gil Moody, 6 p.m. Monday night on Ryan's condition:

Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Ryan is conscious, but is very uncomfortable due to headaches, blurry vision and body pain. Indicators are favorable. Because of the (need to) reduce swelling of the head area he is scheduled for surgery tomorrow time TBD. We thank you for your continue support while we continue through these tough times. Ryan is fighting hard and he feels the love.

Our story from earlier Monday

Ashburn (Oct. 26, 2009) - As the family of Ryan Moody received what they termed an "overwhleming show of love and support" they had good news for those following the condition of the injured William and Mary and former Stone Bridge High School football player: he has been upgraded out of the intensive care unit.

Moody was involved in a car accident over the weekend and taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News.

Area Athletes Send Their Thoughts and Prayers to Former Stone Bridge Star Injured in Car Accident

Area athletes flooded the social networks Sunday to send their thoughts and prayers to Ryan Moody and his family after the former Stone Bridge High School standout  and current William and Mary football player was injured in a serious car accident over the weekend.

Late Sunday, Ryan's father Gil Moody, an assistant coach at Stone Bridge released this statement about Ryan's situation:

"To our friends and family: Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes, Ryan is a very lucky young man, he is strong and will continue to get better each day. He was involved in a car accident, he is cognizant and fighting hard to get better and recuperate. Ryan can not accept visitors or phone calls except for family member at this time, but he knows everyone is wishing him the best and we do appreciate your prayers and concern. We will do our best to keep you posted via face book. Thank you, The Moody’s".

It was just a little over a month ago that Moody had his freshman redshirt season at William and Mary cut short with a severely broken ankle.

As word spread Sunday of Moody's injuries, his teammate at William & Mary and former Potomac Falls High School star, defensive end Adrian Tracy released this on Twitter: "Pray for Ryan Moody #9...we got your back, that's why we're a family."

On Facebook, athletes sent Ryan well wishes and prayers and a group has been started called "Get Well Ryan Moody" ... to join it, click here.

Personal note from VivaLoudoun editor Dan Sousa: this news really hits close to home as my son goes to Stone Bridge High School and I have known the Moody's through youth sports in Loudoun and then coverage of Bulldog football for many years. Ryan is a great young man and incredibly well-liked and respected by both his peers and adults. What has happened to him in the last six weeks shouldn't happen to anybody in a lifetime but he has a fighting spirit and the support of the Loudoun community here to back him in a full recovery.

College Corner: Moody's Season Ends at William and Mary with Severe Ankle Injury + More Updates

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor

(Sept. 18, 2009) - Former Stone Bridge High School standout Ryan Moody was having a dream redshirt freshmen season at William and Mary as he was in the starting line-up and helped The Tribe upset Virginia in the season opener. The dream turned to a nightmare last weekend when Moody was severely injured in William and Mary's home opener against Central Connecticut State.

Following an interception in the third quarter of the 33-14 win, Moody was in on the tackle and broke his ankle. He was down on the field for 15 minutes before being removed and had to have surgery Sunday and wasn't released from the hospital until Wednesday.. He is due for another surgery in eight weeks to remove a screw in the ankle.

Another local product, Potomac Falls defensive end Adrian Tracy continues to shine for William and Mary. Read about him here!

More College News!