Highlighting spring seniors: Girls' Soccer

Seniors: Audrey Hottle. defender; Bailey Riggleman, defender; Amber Messick, Sr., midfielder; Fridrika Sigurdardottir, defender.

A first-year varsity member for the Colonels, Riggleman couldn’t help but be impressed with the connection this year’s team made in the preseason.

“Our team was really like a group of sisters,” said Riggleman of a group coming off a 14-5-1 season. “I know a lot of teams say that, but we really meant it when we said it.”

Riggleman said her favorite memory for the Colonels was when she was a sophomore and James Wood beat Handley in overtime.

“Our entire team, our bench, to even our parents in the stands who traveled with us to go watch us play .. everyone was so excited,” Riggleman said. “It felt pretty good.”

Riggleman is going to study forensics and investigative sciences at West Virginia University next year. She’ll carry her James Wood soccer experience with her.

“The feeling I got being on the team, it compares to really nothing else,” Riggleman said. “I have lifelong friends now. I’m just never going to forget the whole experience.”