Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Riley Kelsch

There might not be a program at East this year that lost more to graduation than the girls’ basketball team. Gone is four year starter Sydney Schultz (Missouri State), last year’s all-state selection Ty Battle (Indiana State). Senior Amaya Johns, who was expected to lead the team in scoring this year, has been sidelined all season by a knee injury. If there is one thing coach Carretto and the lady Wolves are known for, however, it is their ability to outwork opponents and maximize their talent, and no one player embodies the spirit of that hard work more than our Oswego East student athlete of the week, senior Riley Kelsch.

Whether it is on the diamond for softball or the court for basketball, Kelsch puts maximum effort into everything she does. Head coach Abe Carretto describes his starting shooting guard as, “hard-working, aggressive, a team player, and always improving on her game and being a teammate.”

Riley’s parents, Scott and Sharon Kelsch, understand just how hard their daughter has worked to improve, not only as a player, but also as a teammate. “[Riley’s] worked hard on all aspects of the game, but has really shown improvement in areas that don’t always show up in the box score,” says Scott. He goes on to add, “Boxing out for rebounds, playing good defense, and reducing turnovers are areas she’s focused on this season. I think she leads by example and carries herself in a way that young kids and peers can look up to.”

Losing so many talented seniors to graduation who helped East set records for wins as a team meant a number of girls were going to have the opportunity to step up and play. Kelsch has embraced her role as both a shooting specialist and defender off the ball. “Riley has put a lot of effort into earning a starting spot and many more minutes because of the work she did on her own and with Coach Watkins,” says Carretto. He goes on to add, “I can’t say enough about how proud I am of how Riley has worked hard to be better offensively, but also as a defender off the ball.”

The Wolves currently sit at 10-9 overall, coming off a big crosstown win over Oswego High School. Kelsch has found her stroke after a mid-season slump, scoring 20 and 11 over the past two games. She leads the team with 26 3-point baskets made, and is shooting 31% overall from beyond the arc. The Wolves rank in the top 3 of the SPC, and are hoping they can recapture the regional championship after falling short last season.

Kelsch has juggled her improvement as a basketball player with a heavy schedule of travel and school softball, and is committed to play softball for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Despite a heavy schedule of sports, Riley earned a 4.0 last semester and scored a 1200 on the SAT and a 26 on the ACT.

Riley’s head softball coach and Criminal Justice teacher, Mark Green, understands just what type of student and player he has to help lead his underclassman this spring. “Riley is supportive of her team and teammates and leads by example. She is a respectful, confident, and self-motivated person.”

Riley is hoping to major in Forensic Investigation, an area Green believes she will excel. “Riley will succeed in the field of forensics because she is very organized, inquisitive, and attentive to detail,” says Green.

Riley and her teammates are hoping all of their hard work and improvement on the court will earn them some hardware and a bit of redemption after last season’s premature exit in the state playoffs. As someone who has seen just how far working hard can take her, Riley offers up this advice to future Wolves, saying, “always look at the big picture, as even the smallest things can end up having a big impact down the road.” The Wolves nation will be there for Riley and her teammates down the road as they inch closer to the state playoffs