Riley Wilson’s Journey From B-Team to Varsity Star at Mother McAuley

At Mother McAuley High School, the path to varsity success is challenging. Riley Wilson, during her freshman year, was placed on the freshman B team. Typically, this narrows chances of making varsity. Despite this, Wilson remained committed to her team when Mother McAuley won the state title during that year.

Wilson aspired to be part of that victorious team culture. This determination paid off in a recent match. In front of an audience of roughly 2,000, Wilson delivered a standout performance. As a senior middle hitter, she recorded eight kills and three blocks, contributing to McAuley’s 19-25, 25-21, 25-21 GCAC Red victory over rival Marist.

Her teammates also shone. UConn commit Keira McQuillan achieved 15 kills and nine digs. Jayce Prohaska added 11 kills and 16 digs. Coastal Carolina’s Peyton Heatherly managed 27 assists and 10 digs. Youngstown State-bound Ava Calle added 14 digs.

Western Michigan recruit Taylor Berg led Marist with 13 kills, while Michigan commit Maggie Kurpeikis added 11. However, sophomore Chyla Jukes was absent due to personal reasons, according to McAuley coach Jen DeJarld.

Riley Wilson rose to the challenge, filling the gap Jukes left. DeJarld praised Wilson’s diverse shot selections and quick-reaction plays, noting her significant progress from B-team status. Wilson’s growth is unprecedented, with the coach highlighting that she has never seen a B-team player emerge as a varsity starter.

Wilson’s rapid development began the summer between her freshman and sophomore year. She impressed the coaching staff sufficiently to secure a spot on junior varsity the following year.

“I wanted to set an example,” Wilson said, referring to wanting future B-team freshmen to look up to her journey. Her hard work focused on enhancing her middle hitting range.

Wilson’s teammates noticed her progress. McQuillan commented on her early JV days, unaware of Wilson’s past on the B team, acknowledging her growth. Prohaska described Wilson as fast, adaptable, and energetic.

Though Wilson is gaining college interest, she mentioned her recruiting journey is still ongoing. The recent match was their second in four days, with McAuley previously winning 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 in a less attended ASICS Challenge semifinal match.

Upcoming postseason seedings are expected to feature McAuley and Marist as top contenders. They could face off again should the seeds hold, possibly meeting again on November 5. Despite these future prospects, Wilson remains focused on the present. “We need to stick with our routine and maintain focus,” she stated, emphasizing a current moment approach.