TWIN FALLS — Canyon Ridge senior Riley Scott remembers not wanting to play soccer at all when he was 8 years old.
It was his first time playing on a team and he was scared to go on the pitch.
Those fears quickly disappeared, and Scott loved the game so much that he struggled to put into words what it meant to play at the next level. Scott signed on Tuesday to play at Eastern Oregon University, an NAIA school in Ragland, Oregon.
“This is a big step for me,” Scott said. times news. “And I'm very excited about what I've done. I think this means that all the hard work has paid off, and I need to keep working hard for the future. .”
So how did Scott go from not wanting to play at all to becoming a college soccer player?
He credits his parents for pushing him out in the first place, as well as some youth coaches who made it a positive experience and made him want to keep coming back. For Scott, soccer is a way to meet different people, get a break from reality, and get involved in something he enjoys.
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Scott remains in the game off the field. Scott loves watching any type of soccer because he sees how he can develop as a player. His favorite team was Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona, and he also loved Lionel Messi, who currently plays in the United States for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. Another player who inspires him is Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara.
Canyon Ridge head coach Corey Farnsworth said Scott's years of playing and watching soccer allows him to be one step ahead of most players on the field. Scott played the roles of attacking midfielder and defensive midfielder during his time with the Riverhawks, finding success in both.
Farnsworth also watched him grow from a quiet freshman to a leader and team captain as a senior. This is especially important in soccer, where there are no timeouts and players need to communicate on the field.
Last fall, Scott led Canyon Ridge to the Great Basin Conference championship and was named first team all-conference and second team all-state.
“He's given everything to this team the last four years,” Farnsworth said. times news. “He's been a captain on the field and a coach off the field, but he has to do a little bit of everything in midfield. He's played a (key) role in all of our successes. I did.”
Scott also excels in the classroom. He boasts a 4.0 grade point average, ranking him at the top of his class. The key, Scott says, is not to procrastinate. During the season, he completed his homework during school breaks. That way, he will be able to devote all his efforts to soccer practice.
Also, plan what you need to accomplish and when so you don't fall behind.
Scott plans to study exercise science at Eastern Oregon State and hopes to go into either athletic training or health and human performance. More importantly, he just wants to stay involved in the sport. It's safe to say that a combination of soccer and academics could help him get there.
“It helps athletes and allows them to participate in sports,” Scott said. “I'm very interested in this. I want to continue participating in the sport and help other athletes get better and learn more.”