Get to know Gloucester multi-sport athlete Rylee Amaral
GLOUCESTER, Va. — When it comes to commitment, student-athletes have to expertly handle time management and discipline with even just one season of a sport. For 16-year-old Gloucester High School (GHS) sophomore Rylee Amaral, that balancing act is one she tackles year-round as a tri-sport athlete.
Since before she even started elementary school, Rylee could be found on the soccer field. From Gloucester Parks and Recreation, to Baystars and Legacy travel teams, and on to GHS JV and Varsity teams, she’s been busy on the pitch over the past 12 years. Three years ago she added school basketball to her list of activities, followed by volleyball a year later. She is intentionally focused on not just her current skill development, but also looks ahead to her future opportunities as a student athlete. Rylee explains, “I play these sports to show dedication and leadership. They also make me happy and will get me into college.”
Although smaller in stature compared to some of her opponents, Rylee does not let that become a mental or physical block for her in any of her sports. In fact, she has the ability to recognize a challenge and works diligently to not let anything like that become a downfall. “My biggest challenge as an athlete is my size. I overcome this by working hard to improve my skill so that my height doesn’t impact my performance,” she shares.
Her family has cheered her on since Rylee’s earliest days as an athlete and remain constant supporters who admire the perseverance and passion Rylee demonstrates every season. Her mom, Christina Amaral, says, “Rylee is very passionate and dedicated to every sport she plays, truly 100% dedicated. She puts her all into everything she does.”
With a mindset and athletic background like Rylee’s it is no surprise that she has taken in some impressive advice throughout the course of her sports experiences. One of the most memorable suggestions from a coach has been to play the ball in her court so to speak, to not wait for chances to pop up but rather take the initiative herself to stay in control. Rylee says, “A piece of advice that has stuck with me is the idea that “opportunities don’t happen, you create them”.”
To be so competitive in physically demanding sports, there is also always an overarching air of grace that Rylee displays during every game. Her soccer coach, Scott Haley, GHS Varsity Lady Dukes Soccer Coach, says, “I have had the honor to coach Rylee over the last couple of years. She is one of the most technical players I have ever coached. With her ability to move around defenders with grace and poise, she is feared by most of her opponents. She was our leading scorer last year with 21 goals. Her passion for her team is very evident. As Rylee continues to progress in her leadership and ability to involve the entire team in the attack, our team will have a very strong future”
For Rylee, there’s a real degree of empathy that she brings to the table as an athlete and teammate. Coach Haley describes Rylee’s noteworthy response to an injury in a past season, “In our regional match last year, I asked Rylee to move aggressively to goal on a free kick where scored and was injured. After she was helped off the field she was very upset on the bench, but she was not crying in pain; she was disappointed that she would not be able to help her team the rest of the match.”
While much of her time is spent at practices and games, this talented tri-sport athlete is also just as musically gifted. Rylee thrives on staying active and involved and participates in school and private choral groups and has recently added an instrument to her repertoire of ways to express her talents. “I love having something fun to do after school that I enjoy doing. Outside of my sports I enjoy singing and playing guitar,” she shares.
A fact that wise athletes acknowledge is one of which Rylee is keenly aware– mistakes or misjudgements are bound to happen. Yet, she makes it a priority to take those in as learning opportunities and improve her performance in her next game. She explains, “I often make mistakes when competing, it is part of being an athlete; however, I don’t let it frustrate me and make sure to do better on the next play.”
Rylee has the maturity of someone well beyond her years and has come to recognize that being involved in team sports requires a degree of trust that does not just come right away. Over time, and with strong teams and coaches, she has learned what it truly means to be a team player. Rylee says, “Being a member of a team has taught me to be less selfish and to trust others.”
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