Libby Flaisher ‘25
Riley Cassidy’s ‘22 passion for basketball is apparent. Ever since she was introduced to basketball in third grade, her interest for the game began. Cassidy started playing AAU basketball three years later. Currently, she is playing for an AAU program called All In Hoops, and in addition to this, she carries the responsibility of being a Team Captain for this year’s Episcopal varsity team. She also volunteers as a basketball camp counselor during the summer to help teach young kids the fundamentals of the sport.
Charles Simmonds, Head Coach of the Girls Varsity Basketball team, remembers first meeting Cassidy when she was a visitor during her eighth grade year, saying, “Riley loved playing the game, and she had fun out there. She could do different things, whether it was rebounding, scoring, or handling the ball.” Cassidy’s execution of plays on both offense and defence has allowed her to be successful on the court. In fact, one of the greatest aspects of her versatility, in Simmond’s opinion, is “her ability to gather rebounds on defense and then quickly transition to leading the offense as she pushes the ball up the court.” Kennedy Moore ‘22, fellow member of varsity team, describes Cassidy as a “beast,” and says her best skill is “breaking ankles.”
Amanda Purcell ‘22, Co-Captain of the Girls Basketball Team, comments, “She simply wants the ball in her hands, but in the most humble way possible. She knows what she is capable of and that shows on court. She’s also one of our players who knows how to confidently set the tone for us going into games. ” Cassidy’s confidence and performance in high-pressure situations sets a perfect example for her teammates on the court.
During a game against The Baldwin School in her sophomore season, Cassidy’s dedication and skill was evident as she stepped up to help her team. Episcopal unexpectedly fell behind by 19 points at halftime, and Simmons recalls, “We had to kind of chip away bit by bit, but then in the second half, she hit some big threes and drawed a foul on a layup. At the end, she knocked down some free throws and we came back and won.”
“This was one of the best games I have ever played. If I’m being honest, I did not play well at all in the first half. Then, I was playing defense against one of their better girls at the start of the second half, and my defensive intensity transitioned to my offense and I finally got into a flow,” Cassidy recalls.
Cassidy first experienced the positive and family-like atmosphere of the team as an underclassman, and hopes to continue to create this type of environment for the younger girls. Her goals as a captain for this season are to mirror the qualities of one of her previous captains. “When I was a sophomore, my senior captain [Raeleen Keffer-Scharpf ‘20] definitely pushed me to be better and she also encouraged me to have a positive attitude, even when I was frustrated with myself,” she remarks. “She was always there to lift me up. That’s what I aspire to be like, to lift others up when they’re not doing well and be the best version of a leader that I can be.”
According to Simmonds, Cassidy has always displayed the qualities of a leader and “has been a friend to the younger kids. She lets them know she’s there for them, whether they need help on a certain play that we’re running or just to talk with.” Alice Nash ‘24, Varsity Basketball Player, elaborates on her own experiences working with Cassidy, saying, “She is always the first person to pick me up if I am down.” Simmonds also believes that Cassidy’s success as a captain this year will be the result of, “her understanding of what the bigger picture is, and what we are trying to accomplish as a team. There’s going to be ups, and there’s going to be downs, but I know she will be ready to roll with both.”
While Cassidy is preparing for her senior season at Episcopal, she has recently started to plan for her future at Muhlenberg College, which is in the Centennial Conference. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to start new and play basketball in college, and also get a great education at the same time,” she says. Moore remarks, “Riley is a goal setter. I think she achieves a lot of her goals because she works so hard, and I know she will be very successful at the collegiate level.”
When asked what Cassidy’s greatest accomplishment has been, Simmonds replies, “I think it’s still yet to come. I still want to see what that is going to be this year or in college. I think she’s had some good moments, but I still want to see some quality wins as a result of her hard work. So hopefully, we’re looking forward to it [her greatest accomplishment] in the future.”
Photo Courtesy of Riley Cassidy ‘22