College Commits: Riley Veenendaal
All photos by Roberta Pratt.
Izzy Pack
Riley Veenendaal, currently a senior at Hamilton, has been playing soccer for 15 years. She recently committed to playing college soccer at UW-La Crosse.
Vennendaal’s teammate, senior Courtney Bain, says about her: “Riley is an amazing player on and off the field. She is always there for you, regardless of your performance or the game's outcome. She is a bright spirit on the team, and if you watch a game, you'll most likely see her either singing or dancing at some point. Over the years, Riley has put a lot of work into becoming the player she is today, and her recent commitment to UW-La Crosse is just one example of her hard work. I am extremely proud of Riley for all that she has accomplished, and I can't wait to see all the great things she does in college.”
Another teammate, senior Gabby Weisgerber states, “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play both club and high school soccer with Riley. Her positive energy is contagious and she is genuinely one of the best teammates I have ever had. She pushes herself and the people around her to work their hardest, and she makes everyone on the team better just through watching her hard work, dedication, and love for the game. Riley’s talent, perseverance, and knowledge of the game are immense and truly help our teams out in some of the most difficult games. However, what inspires me the most is seeing Riley’s love for the sport while she is playing. Whether we are playing in a high stakes championship or in a rec league indoor game, Riley just lights up while she is playing, and her love for soccer is something that has impacted and inspired me the most when playing with her. Some of my favorite memories have been playing soccer with Riley, and I am so appreciative to have her as a teammate. UW-La Crosse is lucky to have an amazing player and person coming to their team. I am so incredibly proud of you Riley and I can’t wait to watch you shine as an Eagle!”
Read more to hear from Veenendaal:
How long have you been playing?
I have been playing soccer since I was three years old, so almost 15 years.
What is your favorite memory from soccer?
My favorite memory from soccer is a tie between all of the places I got to travel with my different teams (Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, California, and every state in the Midwest) or winning State with my club team in 2023.
What do you think is your favorite/best soccer goal you've accomplished?
One of my favorite goals that I’ve accomplished in soccer was being named to the Best IX team for my league. Earning this recognition showed me that the hard work I had put in all season had paid off.
What will you miss most about playing for Hamilton?
I will miss playing against my club teammates and playing with Gabby Weisgerber, Courtney Bain, and Maddie Arthur.
How has soccer impacted your life?
Soccer has impacted my life in a lot of different ways. It has taught me how to set goals and work to achieve them even when I face adversity. It has also given me many friendships and has been a safe space for me during difficult parts of my life.
What is one lesson you've learned from soccer?
Soccer has taught me to look for the small things that bring you joy when something doesn’t go your way.
What was the recruitment process like for you?
The recruitment process for me was kind of difficult. At the start of the process I sent out tons of emails but had a hard time getting responses from coaches and getting coaches to attend my games. By the end of the process, however, I had coaches reaching out to me and had a few offers to choose between.
What is one thing someone has told you that you will carry into playing in college?
My parents always told me that losing wasn’t the end of the world as long as I was having fun while playing.
What advice do you have for younger players?
My advice to younger players would be to not be afraid of trying something new. Throughout my entire time playing club soccer, I was always scared of playing on an older team or going to different camps and playing with people that I didn’t know. Doing those things were probably the most important steps in my development as a player and a person and it taught me how to be okay with being uncomfortable.
What are you most excited about next year playing for UW-La Crosse?
I am most excited to get to play against different friends of mine who also committed at schools in the WIAC.
Is there anyone you’d like to give a positive shout out to who has been instrumental in your journey?
To my parents, I’d like to thank them for always believing in me and encouraging me to practice and work to be the best version of myself both on and off the field. I’d also like to thank them for the countless hours spent driving me to practice and watching me play games, and also for paying for me to be a part of soccer. To my sister Hannah, I’d like to thank her for being my biggest competition and inspiration. I wouldn’t be playing soccer today had it not been for the many times my dad, sister, and I played soccer in our backyard.
