Name: Riley Russell
DOP: 06-11-2009
Year of Graduation: 2027
Current School: Nashua North High School
School Sports: Cheerleading
Athlete Interview
Someone you look up to; athlete, coach, family etc. and why?
I look up to Micheal Jordan because he has the determination, drive, and work ethic that I strive to have every single day. His work ethic is the reason he was able to accomplish all of his goals and be successful as well as I hope to accomplish all of my goals!
If you could give one piece of advice to younger athletes, what would it be?
No matter what age you start a sport, as long as you work hard and never give up you will always succeed. I always like to think the universe wouldn’t put this goal in your head if you weren’t meant to achieve it!
Do you have any odd pre-game rituals?
Before practice I like to warm up on my air track so I can give myself the space to mess up. I also like to show up to practice early to give myself enough time to not have to rush!
Before a competition I like to listen to my routine music and envision me and my teammates hitting are routine, I also like to listen to music and getting all the stress out before warming up!
Are you more confident at Home or Away games and why?
I definitely feel more confident at home games because I love seeing the student section and I love getting hype together as a school!
What are your short-term and long-term aspirations?
A short term goal of mine is to have my full on dead mat.
A long-term goal is to be a Daytona champ and to also be on team USA❤️🤍💙
How do you handle pressure during a critical game or performance?
I like to use it to my advantage, because I feel like I thrive under pressure, like let’s say a stunt is not hitting at practice when I’m under pressure at a competition. I know it has to hit so when I’m under pressure like that it makes the stunt hit and it makes it work.
What does teamwork mean to you, and share a meaningful leadership moment.
I remember one time when we had a really bad practice a couple days before states. I remember nothing was hitting. We were all getting frustrated with each other and it was just overall a really bad practice. I remember when we were in the warm-ups room for states and some of my teammates were not confident in themselves for tumbling. I remember I sat there, and I encouraged them that they could do it and that when we went out there, they were gonna hit it and it was gonna be perfect. then one of my teammates went for their tumbling in warm-ups and they hit it. I remember running over and hugging them because of how proud I was. I really believe that encouraging your teammates and telling them that they can hit a certain skill or hit a stunt It really does help them out and it overall makes your team better. I remember, we had gone out and competed and my teammates had hit all of their tumbling and all of their stunts and I couldn’t have been more proud of my team💙
What would you say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as an athlete?
Some of my weaknesses are I’m very hard on myself, I am sometimes a perfectionist, and I sometimes push through when I shouldn’t.
I would say some of my greatest strengths are I’m very determined, I love to motivate other people, and I always like to think the comeback is always greater than the setback.
How do you manage you athletic responsibilities with academics & personal commitments?
so I go to school during the day and we have this thing called Eblock where I try to get most of my homework done so then when I get home, I can eat and then relax and do any other homework if I have it, and then I like to blow up my air track before practice so I can warm up my tumbling and warm up a little bit early for practice. But then when I don’t have cheer or school, I like to either work or I like to volunteer.
How do you handle constructive criticism & feedback from coaching staff?
I don’t see constructive criticism as my coaches like hating on me or saying that like I suck I take it as them trying to help me. So if my coach tells me I’m not doing something right or like I need to point my toes in like my jump or I need to like put my feet together in my tumbling , it makes my brain remember it so then I do it and I really appreciate when my coaches give me constructive criticism
What has been a big success moment so far, and how do you remember it making you feel?
My biggest success moment so far has been me making varsity. I remember feeling like this is where my career is only gonna go up from here, and it has I have made so many amazing connections and have made so many amazing friends. All of this would’ve never happened if I didn’t make varsity💙
An interesting fact about me is...
I always love a challenge and trying new things. I also love the coaching style where they don’t just tell you what you wanna hear they tell you what you need to hear and I feel like as an athlete that will get you the farthest
Some hobbies outside of sports I have are running, reading , shopping.
