Beech Tree News Network

Ryder is a senior at Butler County High School and is a member of the BCHS cross-country team, indoor track & field team and outdoor track & field team. He is the son of Joe and Ellie Harbaugh. The Harbaugh family live in southern Butler County.

Ryder grew up playing baseball including many years of travel ball and being named to USSSA All-State, Baseball Youth All-American and winning the Little League State Championship. He also played AAU basketball with the Kentucky Supreme. 

Ryder’s dad played both basketball and baseball at Ohio County High School, and was a member of the Eastern Kentucky University’s Judo Team. Ryder’s Poppy, Jack Harbaugh, played basketball on a United States Army team and went on to play two years overseas in France.

While at Legacy Christian Academy, Ryder served as the Varsity basketball team captain and led the team to the KCAA State Championship. He was a 3x defensive POY and was in the Top 10 in the conference in assists and steals. His last year at Legacy, he was named to the All-Tournament Teams for the Kickoff Tournament and the State Tournament. Other basketball success includes:

PREP HOOPS KY – All Glue Team—Top 250 EXPO; Rick Bolus 41 Annual High Potential Blue Chip Camp—Top Sleeper Award; Prep Hoops KY—Class of 2025 State Ranking #85 Overall and #26 Point Guard; Selection to Team USA 16U—United World Games (Student Athlete World)

Ryder began running outdoor track & field his sophomore year at BCHS (where he was pushed hard by Parker Smith) and joined the cross-country team his junior year. Ryder signed the first Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Endorsement in Butler County High School history for Basketball, Track & Field and XC. He has been named the NSCA All American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year in 2023 and 2x National High School Coaches Association 1st Team Academic All-American. 

As a BCHS long-distance runner, Ryder has achieved the following accomplishments: 

BCHS Outdoor Track & Field-3x National Qualifier

KHSAA Region Championship-Multi Top Finishes

USATF Region 5 Championship-1st place

USATF Junior Olympics and New Comer of the Year Award

Multi-School Record Holder Indoor & Outdoor, KHSAA Championship 3rd Place

XC All-State selection 2023

State qualifier 2023

KHSAA Regional Top Finish 7th place

2023 NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year

KHSAA 1st Team All-State Academic

2x State Qualifier, 3 Top Finishes

For Track & Field, he spent most of his time on relay teams running the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 breaking school records in the 4x800 Relay with Case Hooten, Landon Henderson and Parker Smith, as well as the 4x200 Relay with Gage Beasley, Clay Steff and Kyle Chambers.

Ryder maintains a 4.0 GPA and received the Legacy Christian Academy Christian Character award in 2021. He is a member of the BCHS Beta Club, TSA, and the Fortify Youth Group at Crossland Community Church.

Ryder enjoys paddle boarding, lifting weights, playing golf & disc golf and attends Crossland Community Church in Morgantown. In the summer, Ryder works as a lifeguard at the Morgantown City Pool. He has also helped coach elementary school basketball.

Congratulations on all your school records, and state and national level athletic and academic accomplishments, Ryder!