Griffith sophomore utility player Elena Rivas is a student-athlete who understands she’s a student first.
That’s not to say Rivas isn’t a talented athlete. She led the Panthers in extra-base hits as a freshman. But she stepped away from basketball, one of her three sports, so she’d have more time for schoolwork.
“It was a cool experience,” Rivas said of playing three sports. “But it was also pretty tough because my academics are my main priority. I was always staying up late trying to finish homework or study for tests after games or practices. It was kind of hard to balance, but I figured it out at the time.”
Rivas, who also plays volleyball, has more time for the important things, like extra credit.
“Every extra opportunity I get, I always take it so I have a little extra cushion on my grade — and I always make the honor roll,” she said.
Rivas could earn another line on her high school resume this season if she’s named All-Greater South Shore Conference. Through six games, she’s hitting .308 with a 1.033 OPS for the Panthers (5-1) and is showing improved plate discipline with an 8-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
“When I get on the honor roll, it’s just a relief to know that all my hard work has paid off,” Rivas said. “So I feel like it would be the same feeling, just knowing that I got something to reward my hard work.”
Rivas is already an all-star teammate, according to Griffith senior captain Nevaeh Vargas.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her down,” Vargas said. “She’s always bringing humor and so much positivity to the dugout and the atmosphere in general. She’s always picking everyone else up, and she’s just a very genuine person.”
Griffith coach Kevin Shepard, who has coached Rivas since middle school, echoed that sentiment.
“She’s a great teammate,” Shepard said. “She’s encouraging, she’s not loud, she’s not cocky, she’s very intense, and she’s always cheering for the other players and picking them up.”
Rivas has paired her production with a calmer, more confident presence.
“Her nerves are gone,” Shepard said. “She’s more settled into her role. Last year, she was just trying to get on the field, and now she seems more comfortable, and that’s a big difference for her. Her approach to everything is just more mature than it was her freshman year.”
Vargas said she thinks Rivas could elevate her game even further.
“She’s a great player,” Vargas said. “But if she carried that confidence proudly, I think she would be — excuse my language — a hell of a player.”
Rivas, who wants to play college softball, believes the Panthers have all the tools, too, to end a 10-year sectional championship drought. They’re hitting .424 as a team and have outscored opponents 69-20.
“When I first became a teenager, my main goal was to play college softball at the highest level, to play DI,” she said. “But my main focus now is just the high school team and how far we’ll go, and hopefully we win a state or maybe even multiple state titles.”
Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.
