Rileigh

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

The challenge and the community. When she is out on the mat during competition, winning is solely up to her. Whether she steps off the mat with her hand raised or not, she has a team of support that is constantly cheering her on. Talking her through the match on what moves worked, what needed to be improved. Wrestlers have a strong unspoken bond because they all know the fear, the anxiety, the clarity, the roller coaster of emotions that happens during and after a match.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

Brynn Shepardson. Being from a small town not many girls wrestle, so you start to reach out into the neighboring towns to find others like you. Brynn is the “older” girl who is an excellent wrestler that welcomed Rileigh into her town’s wrestling club. Not only is Brynn a fantastic wrestler, she has the most positive outlook on everything. She made going to practice bearable and enjoyable. Her bright spirit makes it impossible to be in a bad mood.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

Her first summer season. Rileigh worked hard and wanted to try and make the New York National Team to compete at the Junior National Wrestling Championship. At the beginning of the summer season she kept stepping off the mat, loss after loss, after loss. But never gave up. She had a goal. Once the NY state championship came, she went out and Won 1st place! She earned her spot on the national team and got to wrestle at the Junior Championships in Fargo, ND