The first thing that struck Gillette College volleyball coach Julia Machin about Campbell County senior Paige Riedesel was her hustle.
This is a common sight in the three sports Riedesel plays. Whether she's diving for volleyball, tackling rebounds for basketball or stealing the ball in soccer, Riedesel has a competitive edge that outperforms her opponents.
“She’s a really fun athlete to watch,” Machin said. “The longer I coached, the less kids I saw like that. It used to be that kids were jumping into the stands, bleachers, walls. Now, even if the ball was two feet away, You can't chase it. It's refreshing to have a player like (Riedesel) come into the stands and jump over kids to get the ball.”
That grit earned her a scholarship to play for Machin at Gillette University, where local athletes will play at the Pronghorn Center starting this fall.
Riedesel started playing volleyball in the eighth grade. Until then, she was obsessed with soccer. However, after she dedicated herself to a new sport, she realized how much she had grown and how much more she could continue to grow in this sport.
Riedesel wanted to play at the collegiate level, but her recruitment started later than others. But that wasn't a bad thing. He believed landing at Gillette University was the best situation for Riedesel.
“I don't think I'm ready to leave Gillette yet,” she said. “I can play volleyball for two more years, I can play here in front of my family, and I can do it for cheap (tuition). It all worked out.”
Machin wasn't the only member of the Gillette University volleyball team who felt an affinity for Riedesel. The girls on the team had been asking Machin about Riedesel since August, when the Pronghorns hosted a practice for the Camels and the team watched Riedesel play.
“She went at them, and it was great,” Machin said. “She just started her senior year and she's already competing against them. At that point (the team) was like, 'Okay, she's going to be okay.' we want her ”
Riedesel said the competition is something she has worked on not only to create her own business card, but also to instill in a class younger than her. That's what made her a leader for Campbell County's sports teams.
“That's very important. As far as giving your all, that's all a coach really wants,” Riedesel said. “There were times when I didn't have my best game, but I hustled hard and that's what the coaches want too. That's what I want to bring to the volleyball team.”
Riedesel's competitiveness reminded Machin of another Gillette local she recruited, Kinley Solem. Thunder Basin's 2023 graduate was also a hustle outside hitter that Machin relied on to build the team's culture.
Having multiple players who can set the tone for the team with their hustle is important for Machin, who is entering his second year with the volleyball program. The team is still building its culture and a player like Riedesel could help the Pronghorns become a winning program.
As of now, the Campbell County senior has just under a month left in her high school career, which includes her final playoff appearance with the Camel girls soccer team. She and the rest of the volleyball team then begin summer training, and Liedesel begins the next stage of her athletic journey.