Ryan Slawin and the Northbrook Spartans (IL) competed at Cooperstown Dreams Park during Week 9 in 2005. Ryan returned to Cooperstown Dreams Park in 2013 as a coach of the New Trier Blue Bulldogs (IL).

Ryan graduated from Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook, IL) in 2011 where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honors Society. He was also a two-year baseball letter winner. During his senior season, Ryan batted .330 with a .430 on-base percentage, helping lead his team to regional and sectional championships. An infielder, Ryan was selected to the senior all-star game and was named a scholar athlete. In addition to his high school team, Ryan competed several years within the Northbrook Baseball travel team organization and in the summer of 2010 with the Academy Elite Baseball Club (Glenview, IL).
After his high school graduation, Ryan attended and played baseball at Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO). His freshman season was 2012. As a sophomore (2013), Ryan was named a UAA All-Academic.