Ryan Boyles provided some big moments for himself and the Wildcats track and cross country programs during his time at Salem Community High School. That ability and success would later continue on at the college level.

A 1996 graduate of SCHS, Boyles began to make a name for himself on the track during his sophomore season in 1994 when he won the North Egypt Conference championship in the 3200 meters with a time of 10:03. Later that season Boyles earned a ticket to the Class AA state meet in the 1600 meters with a runner-up finish at the sectional in a time of 4:35. Boyles added an NEC championship in the 800 meters during his junior season in 1995 as well as a runner-up finish in the 1600 meters to SCHS Hall of Famer Chris Owen. The same scenario repeated itself during Boyles’ senior season in 1996 when he once again won the NEC 800 meters and was second to Owen in the 1600 meters. Boyles, who won Salem’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1996, earned a return trip to the AA state meet in the 1600 meters with a sectional championship time of 4:31.

Boyles was a key contributor to the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Salem cross country teams that reached the Class AA state meet. He ran No. 6 and finished 151st at the 1993 state meet where Salem finished 21st as a team. A year later Boyles jumped all the way into the No. 1 spot for the Wildcats at the state meet where he finished 40th as an individual and Salem was 20th as a team. During the 1995 postseason run Boyles ran No. 2 for the Wildcats and 88th overall at the state race as Salem improved its team position to 16th.

Boyles later went on to run cross country and track at Eastern Illinois University. Twice Boyles earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for the Panthers in cross country. On the track Boyles was twice All-OVC in the 1500 meters, the steeple chase and the medley relay. At the time of his induction into the SCHS Hall of Fame Boyles was a member of EIU’s second and seventh fastest teams in the 4 X 1600 relay.
Boyles served as a team captain during his senior season at Eastern Illinois in both track and cross country during his senior season.