Ryan Castaneda Sitting at His Desk on Dec 3.
Photo by Alicia Zoltowski| The Promethean
When Ryan Castaneda first arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s (UWS) campus from Los Angeles, he couldn’t have predicted how quickly the community would shape his future.
Years before stepping into his current role, Castaneda came to the university as a baseball recruit. “In high school, I knew I wanted to go explore somewhere else because California is pretty much all I knew,” Castaneda said.
After researching the school and city, he fell in love with the small-town Midwest feel. He and his mother visited, and that sealed the deal. “I loved the place. I just really loved the atmosphere, I loved the camaraderie that the team had…I loved how nice and helpful everyone was,” he said. He moved to Superior with only two hoodies, no jacket and no winter boots, but eventually found his way.
That fall, he chose to stay in town for Thanksgiving, a decision that led him to his
Buzz Watching the UWS Vs CSS Game on Nov. 14
Photo by Noa Mikami | The Promethean
first job in athletics. “I told my coach at the time that I was sticking around and he asked me, ‘do you know about hockey?’” Castaneda said. Despite not knowing the sport, his help was needed at a game. “If someone shows me what to do, I could do it,” he said. He was given a quick rundown on how to run a shot chart. Afterward, Jon Garver offered him a student job in the athletics department where he learned about hockey and other sports, eventually becoming a student supervisor.
By his junior year, Castaneda was interested in a full-time athletics role. After learning what the job entailed, he began taking on more administrative duties to gain experience. He graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Still unsure of his path, he started working in the admissions office, took on assistant coaching for the baseball team, and volunteered in athletics.
In June 2023, Castaneda applied for a position in the university’s athletic marketing and communications office. He spent two years as a sports information specialist and was promoted to sports information manager in early June 2025, taking over the role Garver had held for 15 years.
As sports information manager, Castaneda handles much of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Yellowjacket Athletics running. On game days, he sets up scoreboards, gets music going, makes sure statisticians are ready, and leads a student staff of about 22. He also serves as a liaison to the media, connecting coaches and athletes with coverage. After games, he posts recaps and box scores, confirms that the conferences and the NCAA receive stat files, updates schedules and rosters, and shares other athletic news. In the fall, he is also a public address announcer for Yellowjacket soccer.
Beyond standard tasks, Castaneda manages mishaps or “other duties as assigned.” “It keeps me on my toes…always got to have a backup plan and maybe even a tertiary plan if something goes wrong,” he said. He credits the staff who help him succeed. “It’s not just one person, it’s a whole group,” he said.
In The 2024 Softball Season MyKenzie Leccia was Named First Team All-UMAC.
Photo by Sama (Sky) Abdullayeva | The Promethean
The work can mean long days that stretch from morning until late at night, but Castaneda’s passion makes the hours worthwhile. “You have to love this. You have to love sports,” he said. His goals reflect that commitment, from expanding UWS record books to keeping the focus on enhancing the student-athlete experience. “Truthfully, the student athletes here are awesome, every single one of them. They’re just respectful, they understand, they just want to grow and mature, and they’re all just fun to watch…that’s what really gets me through,” he said.
For Castaneda, that motivation is rooted in the community he found in Superior. “They took in a kid from California, 2,000 miles away from home and they made this feel like a second home for me,” he said. “I get to stay involved with the program that I love so much.”
