Oswego East student-athlete of the week-Riley Doggett

Oswego IL

12 February, 2022

7:02 AM

Description

Junior Riley Doggett has always had a competitive spirit. As a freshman on the varsity three years ago, Riley often took a backseat vocally, allowing her to learn from her older teammates and improve her own game. As a junior this season, Riley has been one of the Wolves' best players, but just as importantly, found her voice in leading the Wolves, which is why she is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week. Riley comes from a competitive family and has always had a passion for sports. "Riley loves sports in general, but basketball is her first love," says Mike and Kristen Doggett, Riley's parents. They go on to add, "It started at the YMCA in 2nd or 3rd grade. She wanted to be like her brother and worked on whatever the older boys did. It was obvious from early on that she had the competitive edge and basketball was her sport." Riley was talented enough to make the varsity team as a freshman, which helped her mature her game and leadership skills. "Riley always works at 100% and never lets up in games or practices," says Abe Carretto, head basketball coach. He adds, "Riley will talk a lot more [as a junior] now and prepares better for every game. She realizes what it takes to be a varsity athlete and the preparation for the opponent coming up." Taking on a more vocal role for the Wolves is something Riley set as a goal at the beginning of the year. "At the beginning of the season, I wanted to become a bigger leader for the team since I'm an upperclassman this season," says Riley. She goes on to add, "I want to make sure there is good team chemistry and improve myself as an all-around player." Riley's physical maturation as a player is evident in the fact that she was the team's leading scorer last season and is on pace to be again this season. She averages 12 points per game, five rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2 steals. She leads the team in points and rebounds, even though she has become more of a facilitator this season than last. "Riley has done a much better job of looking for her teammates when she drives to the hoop this year with so many players around her that can shoot the ball well." Mike and Kristen saw how OE has helped shape their daughter into the person she is today, saying, "She was very excited to get called up to play varsity as a freshman and very fortunate to have some extremely supportive upperclassmen who took her under their wings. It went a long way in building her confidence as a person and player. It has also given her a great foundation in a strong work ethic, leadership, teamwork, and more." Basketball has been such a big part of Riley's life for so long, and she has no intentions of stopping upon graduation. "When I was young, I always dreamed about playing basketball in college, and when I got to high school, I became more serious about achieving that dream," says Riley. Head coach Abe Carretto believes that is more than a pipe dream, saying, "Riley definitely should play in college. I think she can play at the Division 1 level. She can shoot the 3 with consistency and has a great mid-range jumper. Riley can also drive on her opponents and get to the hoop or create a foul while doing so." Riley would prefer to stay in the midwest for college but will explore any opportunities given to her to continue her career. When deciding which college to attend, it will not be just basketball that provides her opportunities for success after high school. Riley has earned a 4.2 G.P.A. and has aspirations to be either a traveling journalist or a journalist in the sporting world. "Riley's always dreamed of traveling, and because she and her brother always played sports and were on different schedules, there were not as many vacations as we had hoped," says Mike and Kristen. They go on to add, "She excels at English and loves to read. She is very independent and self-driven so we have encouraged her interest in the field." English Department chair and yearbook advisor Colleen Calvey believes Riley has all the requisite skills to excel in journalism, saying, "Riley is inquisitive, hard-working, and welcomes feedback to improve her skills. She is dedicated to finding good sources and is diligent about doing quality work. She meets all of her deadlines and turns in work early to get feedback and improve her content. She is interested in hearing what others have to say and is a natural at interviewing. She is also willing to learn new skills and adapt her work for her audience." Before moving on to college, Riley will continue to improve as a leader and player for the Wolves to try and bring home some new hardware for the school's trophy case. The Wolves are set to take on Naperville Central this Tuesday in the first round of the IHSA state playoffs, and Riley is hoping she can lead her team to a regional championship. For the younger athletes looking for a leg up on how to emulate Riley's success, or to simply make your high school experience better, Riley advises them to, "Try and play as many sports as possible because it helps create a well-rounded athlete and creates a better social experience, which is a big part of high school." Riley's well-rounded game and leadership will be vital to the Wolves making a deep playoff run, and we wish her and her teammates the best of luck.