WALNUT COVE — Ryley Lawson may be a four-sport athlete at South Stokes, but her favorite thing about attending high school is actually the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). The senior has been involved with the program since her freshman year and holds the rank of Cadet Second Lieutenant, which is third in command.
Lawson uses the motivation of her parents and family to compete in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field, and basketball over the past three years.
She ran cross country and was named All-Conference during her freshman year after finishing sixth overall and then earned honorable mention last season after finishing in the top 20.
During the outdoor track seasons, Lawson has competed in eight different events: high jump, 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, and the 1600. She finished all-conference in the 300 meter hurdles with a second place finish in 2019 after placing third in 2018 earning honorable mention. Lawson qualified for regionals in 2019 placing sixth.
Lawson was hoping to follow up her honorable mention all-conference performance in the high jump this season, but due to the new restrictions of the 2020-21 sport seasons, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association eliminated indoor track. She won a bronze medal with a jump of 4-6 in 2019.
She also has played varsity basketball for the Sauras. She played her freshman year and has decided to return to the hard-court for her last season.
Lawson is a member of the BETA Club, National Honor Society, Pep Club and the JROTC Drill Team. She plans to attend college, but where and what her major will be are undecided right now.
The Stokes News caught up with Lawson and allowed us to get to know her on a more personal level by answering the following questions:
What’s your favorite food? Mexican
What’s your favorite subject in school? Science
Who’s had the biggest influence on your life and why? My
paw Paw had the biggest influence on me. I constantly do everything in my power in hopes he is proud of me.
What’s your favorite TV show? “Grey’s Anatomy”
What kind of music do you enjoy? Country
What’s your favorite sport? Track and field
What website do you visit most often? Instagram
What’s the best single day of the year and why? Aug. 7 because it’s my birthday.
What’s your favorite ice cream? Fly Fishing Fudge from Dairi-O.
Do you own any pets, if so what? My dog Titan.
What’s special about the place where you have grown up? I grew up in the same homes as my parents.
What are you most likely to be famous for? I don’t really want to be famous, but if it is for something. I would like to be famous for helping someone else out.
Who’s your favorite teacher/coach and why? Coach (Marsha) Dunn and Coach (Anthony) Smith because they coach me in track and they are both extremely supportive.
Where would you go on your dream vacation? Australia
What’s your dream job? Taking care of underprivileged children.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Crafting
What’s the hardest lesson you’ve ever learned? Growing up is hard.
Who’s your favorite athlete and why? Cam Newton, because it’s my sister’s dog’s name.
What are you looking forward to this year? Graduation
What’s the best thing about you? I’m very honest and have a huge heart.
Look for more “Getting to know Stokes County Athletes” in up-and-coming issues of The Stokes News.
Robert Money can be reached at 336-749-1993.
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