By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
Riley Melendy (Ma-len-de) is a senior at Bay Port on the girls’ swimming team, where she is a three-time WIAA state qualifier.
Melendy is not quite sure where she will attend college yet or if she will swim, but her interests include business, calculus and physics.
Name: Riley Melendy
Nickname: Raj
School: Bay Port
Sport: Swimming
Events: 200 IM, backstroke, relays
Parents: Dan and Patti
Twitter: @rileymelendy
How about a high-school sport you wish you would have done?
“I would have liked to do tennis, even though I haven’t played much. Sometimes my sister and I will hit the ball around.”
Talk about your sister.
“Jourdan is a few years older than me and goes to UW-Oshkosh – she graduated in 2016.”
Do you come from a sports/swimming family?
“Neither of my parents swam, but my mom did track and cross country in high school, while my dad did football and basketball. Jourdan swam.”
You have a new head coach this year in Jim Schilz!
“He was our assistant last year. When I found out we were getting a new head coach, it made me nervous because I didn’t want a whole new coaching staff for my senior year. He gets along well with everyone and handles us well.”
The team has won the FRCC title four years in a row – can you make it five?
“I think so – I’m excited about it. We have another really strong group of freshmen coming in that will help replace what we lost last year.”
What are your personal goals for the season?
“I’m hoping to make it to the state meet in all four events – my two individual races and the two relays.”
Do you have a most memorable swimming moment?
“Last year at state taking third in the 200 Medley Relay.”
An embarrassing one?
“My freshman year in my first meet, in all three of my races, my goggles fell off. Now I wear two caps and put the goggles in between.”
What is the hardest swimming stroke in your mind?
“Technically, it would be breaststroke – the timing is hard for me.”
What’s your specialty?
“Definitely the backstroke.”
Is there one you wish you could do better?
“Freestyle, just because it’s such an important component of swimming.”
What would you score in a dive?
“Probably a zero! I can’t do much but maybe a cannonball and a basic dive. Our divers make it look so easy.”
What is something about you most people wouldn’t know?
“I am very involved in our business club – DECA. This year I’m going to be an officer.”
What’s on your music playlist?
“A lot of kids probably say this but pretty much everything. I used to not like country, but it gets on my nerves less now.”
What three words best describe you?
“Determined, friendly, leader.”
When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“Probably a veterinarian. I have a dog, fish and a rabbit.”
Talk about a favorite family vacation.
“When I was in the fourth grade, we went to Mexico for my grandparent’s anniversary.”
How will Riley Melendy be remembered at Bay Port?
“Probably as a very studious person and being involved with DECA, swimming and being a nice person.”
Dishes or laundry?
“Dishes.”
Lie on the beach or ski down the slopes?
“Ski down the slopes.”
Tiny house or treehouse?
“Treehouse.”
Booth or table?
“Booth.”
Early bird or night owl?
“Early bird.”
Favorites
Food: Pasta
Singer: Quinn XCII
Phone app: Twitter
Color: Light pink
Holiday: Easter
Notes: Suggestions for the senior spotlight can be submitted to Rich via email ([email protected]) or via Twitter (@richpalzewic). All spotlights can be found online at thepress.media. Check out last week’s spotlight on Bay Port’s Drew Abfall.