(Photo source: Hillsborough County Public Schools)
When graduating senior Ky’mari Riley came to Freedom High School as a freshman, she didn’t have any experience as an athlete. She had never played sports growing up.
“I wasn’t able to,” she says, “I had a very strong interest in golf, but I couldn’t play because of financial issues.”
But, Jenna Lamour, Freedom’s athletic director & assistant principal for administration, noticed Ky’mari and encouraged her to try flag football. At the time, she says, “She came in really shy as a freshman, timid and nervous to get involved.”
But once Ky’mari took the field, Lamour says, something special comes out.
“She’s an absolute beast on the field.”
And Ky’mari was always up to try something new. First, she played softball, then participated in track and field, where she tried shot put.
It wasn’t until her junior year when she first joined the wrestling team.
“Girls’ wrestling is really taking off,” says Lamour. “There are lots of opportunities in the sport right now, and she thrived.”
That year, Ky’mari earned first place in Hillsborough County in her weight class.
This year, as a senior, she had an even better wrestling season, as she was the county runner-up, District 1A-7 champion, Region R2 runner-up, and placed sixth overall in the State.
“This year was her year,” says Lamour. “She would have won States if not for an injury that ended the match.”
Perhaps best of all, however, is that Ky’mari thrived in the classroom, as well. She took extra classes so that she could finish high school early. While she’ll walk across the stage and officially graduate with the rest of her class at Freedom’s graduation on May 28, she completed all of her coursework last December, freeing up her schedule to work this semester to help with finances.
While she spent a couple years of high school living with her single mom, she had previously and currently again lives with her grandmother. It wasn’t always easy, but she says the circumstances she has overcome have helped push her harder to pursue her dreams.
While no one in her family has ever even attended college, Ky’mari says her aunt has always encouraged her to be the one who would be the first to do so.
And, thanks to her hard work on the mat and in the classroom, she has earned a scholarship to Andrew College in Cuthbert, GA, where she will attend and wrestle this fall.
Ky’mari says she owes her success, at least in part, to Freedom wrestling coach Derrick McCoy, whose support included driving her to practices and matches.
McCoy is himself a Freedom graduate who came back to his alma mater. After graduating in 2006 as one of the school’s top wrestlers, he attended the University of South Florida in Tampa. He returned to Freedom in 2011 to coach wrestling and teach marketing classes.
McCoy has now been the head wrestling coach at Freedom for 14 years and Ky’mari is not the only student athlete whose life has been changed by his influence.
“He’s selfless and pours his heart and soul into his student athletes and cares for them like they’re his own children,” Lamour says, adding that McCoy is a great coach from a technical standpoint, but, “his heart is even bigger.”
In addition to the support from McCoy, Lamour says Ky’mari’s success also is a reflection of her character, which shines both on and off any playing field or wrestling mat she has been on during her time at Freedom.
“She’s the nicest student we have,” Lamour says. “She’s so loving, so kind and extremely hardworking. Her teachers rave about her because she contributes positively in the classroom and she’s both a team player and a leader. She’s a high achiever who has set high standards for herself.”
Those are all qualities that make Lamour certain Ky’mari will thrive in her next chapter.
“I am ready to go,” Ky’mari says. Especially knowing she’s joining a wrestling team where she’ll make new connections and bonds with new teammates and coaches, “I feel like it’s a new start, and I’m very stoked and excited.”
Ky’mari adds that she’s looking forward to getting on campus and joining some clubs, and of course, wrestling.
While Ky’mari is currently working to overcome the injury she experienced at States, she says that it’s just a temporary setback.
“My injury is going to heal. I’m going to be training hard and I’m going to come back 10 times harder,” she says. “I think I’m going to have a great season.”
Editor’s note — We first found out about Ky’mari because Hillsborough County Public Schools highlighted her on Facebook as a graduating senior who “has overcome great obstacles to succeed.” The School District has done (or is planning to do) the same thing for all of Hillsborough’s high schools, but the honoree from Wharton High had not yet been highlighted at our press time.
We are proud to give students like Ky’mari, who may not graduate in the Top-10 of their respective graduating classes, but whose accomplishments are no less impressive, a little “ink.”
But, we can’t possibly find out about all of these cool success stories without your help, so please email me at ads@ntneighborhoodnews. com to let me know about a student you know about who hasn’t been featured on these pages — even if they go to a private school or aren’t even in high school yet! — GN
