By Grant Mollett, East Ridge High School
On Friday May 8, at East Ridge High School, ten student-athletes signed their letters of intent to participate in college athletics for the following school year. One of those student-athletes was senior Rhyen Foley, who signed her letter of intent with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. Rhyen will join Florida Gulf Coast’s women’s cross country and outdoor track and field teams in fall of 2026.
Rhyen has been a four-year letterman in both cross country and track and field at East Ridge High School. Rhyen’s individual efforts have helped lead her cross country team to great team accomplishments over the years – including two county championships, four district championships, and the school’s first regional championship. Rhyen leaves East Ridge as its fastest runner in school history with a career personal best time of 18:00, which she set her junior year at the New World Fall Spectacular. Rhyen amassed thirty place medals throughout her high school career, to include three district medals, three regional medals, one state medal, and four regular season individual championships. Rhyen’s junior season produced impressive individual results and garnered the attention of several college coaches. However it was in November of her senior year when Rhyen took an opportunity to visit Florida Gulf Coast and meet with Coach Cruz. Now, in May, Rhyen is all set to become an Eagle!
When asked who she would like to thank at her signing ceremony, Rhyen had these things to say, “My parents for always providing what I needed to succeed in my athletics. Their encouragement and love kept me grounded at my highest and lowest.” She also thanked her coaches for helping her to see what she was capable of and stated, “I wouldn’t be the runner that I am without their dedication to the sport.”
Academically, Rhyen will major in legal studies, as she plans to pursue a career in criminology or political science.
Rhyen did have some words of wisdom to her underclass teammates that she will be leaving behind when she attends Florida Gulf Coast, and that was for them to “Run with confidence and determination…You aren’t going to have a good race every time or even a good practice, it’s not controllable. The only thing that you can control is how you handle it.”
