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Bowling Green State University Athletics
MacRitchie Twins a Big Part of Team at BGSU
November 13, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2006
By MAUREEN FULTON, Blade Sports Writer -
BOWLING GREEN - Dan Dakich stood his guests in the middle of the practice floor this week, saying, "Now you're going to find out how fast college basketball is."
The 6-foot, 135-pound teenagers couldn't wait.
High school seniors Colin and Ryan MacRitchie have endured more medical challenges than most do in a lifetime.
But they had never been part of a team, until now.
As part of an event through the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio, the MacRitchies, 17-year-old twin brothers, worked with the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team for more than a week while the Falcons prepared for their first game Saturday against Denison. During that game, they took to the sidelines as assistant coaches.
After seeing the "My Wish" series on ESPN's SportsCenter last summer, Dakich asked assistant athletic director J.D. Campbell to contact Make-A-Wish about wanting to host some kids.
The MacRitchies have had heart problems their entire lives because of genetic defects, although their condition is presently healthy.
"It's a hell of a story, and it fascinated me," Dakich said. "They've been awesome."
Colin and Ryan, who live in Bowling Green, were born without the wall between the upper chambers of their hearts. Also, the wall between the bottom chambers had a large hole in it. Each had open-heart surgery before they turned a year old and again when they were three years old.
"Their hearts were enlarged, and they weren't allowed to cry because it would put a strain on their hearts," said their mother, Amy MacRitchie.
The boys have each had four major surgeries, the most recent ones to install pacemakers. Doctors also discovered Ryan had a perforated lung.
When they became teenagers the boys had a hard time catching their breaths and couldn't walk up the stairs at school. Ryan received his pacemaker when he was 14, in 2003, and Colin got one at 15. Ryan had to get his replaced a year later, substituting a single-chamber model for a dual-chamber pacemaker.
The pacemakers improved their quality of life, and the boys have thrived in high school. Colin goes to Bowling Green High School and Ryan attends Penta Career Center.
"Colin said for the first time he feels like a normal person, he can run and keep up with his friends," Amy said.
But a few months after the surgeries, Amy MacRitchie learned she had cancer.
For four months, the boys and their younger brother Keenan lived with a family friend during the week while Amy, a single mom, received treatments. "I think that stress had something to do with it, my immunities were low," Amy said. "It was a real shock."
Amy received another round of treatment last month and feels healthy. She takes inspiration from her sons.
"They just have overcome so much adversity, but they are never down," Amy said. "They have very positive outlooks. They just never let their condition hold them back."
When the brothers met the team a few weeks ago, they told them about their journey. The Falcons were enthralled and humbled.
"Dan Dakich got to poke fun at some of them who said they couldn't practice when they had a jammed finger," Ryan said.
The MacRitchies said they wouldn't mind becoming coaches when they're older.
The experience let them know some of what that would entail.
"I was impressed with all the coaches evaluating each player as they came in," Colin said. "It was really in-depth and complicated, and I'm glad our guys knew what to do."
Dakich introduced his two "co-coaches" to the crowd yesterday before the starting lineups were announced. Ryan sat next to Dakich and Colin sat between assistants Marty Richter and LaMonta Stone. They were interviewed at halftime by BCSN and on the radio after the game.
"These two guys have made the last couple weeks a whole lot more fun for me," Dakich said. "When you have a forum you have to use it to help people.
"I want our players to learn to be better people by trying to do something for somebody else."
Near the end of the game, which the Falcons won 89-52, the MacRitchies called a play. They wanted Brian Moten to go inside-out with Otis Polk. The play went as planned and Moten sank the jumper.
"It was a fun time being with them on game day," Colin said. "I thought they did well."
