Key Takeaways
- Ryan Ponick, a former standout footballer at the UW-Whitewater, passed away; however, the cause of his untimely death is not yet available.
- He served as the team captain of the Warhawks while attending the University of Wisconsin.
Ryan Ponick, a former football star and team captain at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, passed away at the young age of 26, leaving his friends, family, and loved ones devastated.
The Wisconsin native, Ryan Ponick, passed away on April 23, 2025; however, the information regarding the cause and manner of his untimely death his not yet available.
Ryan Ponick was known for his amazing athletic skills and kind and cheerful nature.
Furthermore, the whole Stanley, Wisconsin, community mourns the untimely death of their beloved native Ryan Ponick and extends their heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
The UW-Whitewater Warhawk Football team took to its official social media to express its sorrow and pay tribute to Ryan Ponick, its former men’s football captain.
The post reads:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a member of the Warhawk Family, Ryan Ponick. A former captain, Ryan’s enthusiasm for the game and Warhawk Football was contagious to everyone around him. Ryan exemplified a work ethic and love for his teammates that was unmatched and set the example for years to come. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ponick Family during these difficult times.”
UW-Whitewater Warhawk Football
Similarly, his high school friend Autumn Mitchell also took to her Facebook page to recall the memories of late Ryan.
She wrote:
“Ryan was such a special person in life and will continue to be spiritually. I looked up to him in so many ways. The way he talked about life, made me want to live it. The way he talked about sports,made me want to experience it. And most importantly? The way he treated others is how I want to live it. All throughout high school Ryan has always been someone that’s going to sit down with you and get to know your story. He was someone who could talk you through a difficult time. A beam of light. There are so many personal memories that I share with Ryan. I’m absolutely heart broken that we never got to reminisce.”
Autumn Mitchell
Ryan Ponick leaves behind his beloved parents, Dr. Todd and Kim Ponick, elder brother Ronny ‘Ron’ Ponick, and sister-in-law Melanie Howe Ponick of Madison.
His parents and family haven’t shared much about Ryan’s passing as they are currently grieving the loss of their beloved son and prefer to maintain privacy.
In addition to his parents and brother, left to cherish the life of Ryan Ponick are his maternal grandfather, Ken Johnson of Stanley, his Uncle Kevin and Aunt Roxanne Johnson of Hudson, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dan Ferris of Cornell, cousins, Lauren Johnson, Bill, and Greg Ponick, and Becky Nette.
The Late Ryan Ponick Made A Lasting Impact In Sports
Ryan Ponick, a beloved former UW-Whitewater football standout and passionate mentor to young athletes, made a lasting impact with his exceptional football skills.
Growing up in Stanley, Wisconsin, the late Ryan Ponick began his sports journey from a very young age.
Moreover, he continued his passion for sports while attending Stanley-Boyd High School, where he excelled in both football and baseball.
His football team earned a state title in 2013, and Ryan earned second-team all-conference honors in 2016.
Ryan also served as the baseball team captain in 2015 and 2016. He graduated from Stanley-Boyd High School in 2017, majoring in communication.
Likewise, after years of showcasing his exceptional football skills at high school, Ryan Ponick attended UW-Whitewater, where he played as a running back for the Warhawks alongside his brother Ronny.
He soon became popular not just for his contributions on the field, but also for his amazing work ethic and team-first attitude.
In 2021, he won the honorable title of First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Special Teams), won the team’s Special Teams Player of the Year Award, and received the Forest Perkins Award.
Moreover, he served as a team captain and appeared in 13 games in his junior season, contributing both on offense and special teams.
He graduated from UW-Whitewater with a psychology major and a coaching minor.
Ryan Ponick’s contribution to sports and his kind nature will always remain in the hearts of his family, friends, and loved ones.
His memorial and funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Stanley.
Instead of flowers, the family asks to make contributions in Ryan’s honor to the UWW Quarterback club, Bob Berezowitz Athletic Center, or to the Stanley Boyd Gridiron Club, Stanley-Boyd Schools.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ryan K. Ponick was born on February 28, 1999, at Eau Claire’s Sacred Heart Hospital to Todd and Kim Johnson Ponick.
- His father is a Chiropractor and runs a clinic in Stanley, Wisconsin, along with Ryan’s mother, Kim.
