Embedded Files
Bradley Winterling
Staff Writer
October 3, 2023
Ella Rishko has shined as a member of the Virginia Tech lacrosse team since arriving on campus. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG – Ella Rishko has been playing lacrosse since she can remember. She lived across the street from four older cousins and a fifth her age that played. She has been surrounded by the game her whole life because of it.
Fast forward to 2023 and Rishko scored 44 goals on Virginia Tech’s lacrosse team in her freshman season. She even tied the record for most scores by a player in an ACC tournament game with seven goals.
“Since the moment I was born I have always had a stick in my hand,” Rishko said. “My older cousins had such a big influence on me playing lacrosse and so did my brother. It's just a huge lacrosse family and there's always an opportunity to throw the ball around.”
Rishko is known for her goal scoring and flashy plays on the field, but her friends, family and teammates know her more for who she is off the field.
“On the field, she's a very gritty player, but off the field, she’s the total opposite,” Rishko’s friend, teammate and freshman year roommate Keelin Byrne said. “She has a super sweet heart, is such a goofy person, and always just gives everyone laughs.”
Rishko was not only one of the best freshmen in the conference last year, but she was one of the best players overall. She gives credit to her teammates for helping her succeed.
“The encouragement from my teammates was unreal,” Rishko said. “I was so nervous when I got here. Even the first captain's practice that we had, everyone was just encouraging all the freshmen so much. It empowered me to do as well as I have.”
Rishko has always been one of the most athletic players on the field, and that did not change when she started playing at Virginia Tech. Head coach Kristen Skiera credits Rishko’s talent and mental toughness for her having such an exceptional start to her collegiate career.
“She's so quick and explosive,” Skiera said. “Stature-wise, she's a little bit smaller, but I feel like she is just so quick. No matter what defender she goes up against, she's able to beat them with her footwork and her speed.
“In her first few games last year, on the field at the Division 1 level, I think she probably didn’t perform up to where she thought she would. But she was able to put that in the rear view, and turn it on and not hang her head. She's got a great mindset.”
Tech finished with a record of 10-9 last year and won a game in the ACC tournament. Rishko is looking forward to this upcoming season to build on what they started.
“Everybody got so much better over the summer and we can see so much improvement from last year already. I'm just very excited for another opportunity to have a good season,” Rishko said.
The coaches have a great deal of confidence in Rishko to take on a larger role on the team this year. Coach Skiera is very excited to see what Ella can do in her second season with the Hokies.
“I think she's going to use her experience and confidence to just have an amazing sophomore year and lead our team to greater heights than we've ever been,” Skiera said.
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